Hackensack schools extend ECDC lease through June 2027, board cites roughly $400,000 in savings

The Hackensack Board of Education on June 16 approved a renewal of the district's lease for the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at Saint Francis Church through June 30, 2027, a pause the board said will give the district time to plan a transition while reducing near-term costs.

Board president Jennifer Harris said the renegotiated terms cut monthly rent by half and shift portions of utilities and major repairs back to the church. "This renegotiation of our ECDC lease has resulted in at least $400,000 in additional savings," Harris said, adding the deal reduces rent by more than $337,000 and cuts utility costs by roughly $30,000.

The facilities resolution, read during the meeting, records a monthly rent of $28,152.50 and specifies that utilities will be shared equally between the board and landlord; previously the board paid 90% of utilities. The board will be responsible for the first $5,000 of repairs; major roofing and plumbing projects will largely be covered by the church. The lease includes an explicit end date of June 30, 2027, and notes the district will not be obligated to occupy the space beyond that date.

Administrators and trustees framed the deal as a fiscally responsible one-year extension that stabilizes the preschool program for the 2026–27 school year while allowing the district to bring pre-K programming back into district school buildings on a planned timetable. The board also cited the elimination of mandatory custodial overtime and other cost reductions as part of the overall savings.

The resolution passed by roll call during the facilities portion of the agenda. Trustees did not provide a detailed line-by-line reconciliation of the $400,000 figure at the meeting, and officials said the district would continue to update families and staff as planning progresses.