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Board reviews Eagle Academy relocation concepts; administration to seek NJDOE funding letters
Summary
Board members said administration submitted two Eagle Academy concepts (Fernwood relocation and a standalone high-school campus building) to the NJDOE for preliminary funding letters; committee members said staff are leaning toward a standalone option pending state aid estimates.
Board members and administration discussed conceptual plans for relocating or re-siting the Eagle Academy program. The facilities committee reported a walkthrough at Fernwood Middle School and circulated two concepts: a remodeled wing at Fernwood with locker-room access and a standalone building on the high-school campus.
Committee members said both concepts were submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education to obtain preliminary funding letters that will specify estimated project cost, expected state aid and the referendum net cost to local taxpayers. "We're probably leaning towards the standalone option," a committee member said, calling it the best long-term solution for the program, but added a final decision will await the DOE funding letters.
Administration said the next steps are to analyze preliminary funding letters from NJDOE, refine the project cost estimates, and bring a recommendation back to the board so a final referendum decision can be made. The finance committee report also mentioned other projects submitted to the NJDOE and that approvals are pending for the 2025 project list.
Board members did not vote on the Eagle Academy project during this meeting; they recorded the tour and the submission of concepts to NJDOE and noted the district will return with funding letters and cost estimates before asking for a final decision.
