The Future of Montclair Public Schools Begins Next Week

I’m very interested in helping this town learn from its past mistakes and get on a healthier trajectory and I have plenty of theories of how we got to this point with the buildings in this current state. There is a time and a place for that. But what’s important now is that we establish a framework for the balance of this decade to invest in our public schools in a way that hasn’t happened in far too long. That starts with your YES vote to authorize the school district when you vote in the next week.

And while I’m not a school official and don’t have any fiduciary responsibility when it comes to the schools, I know that if we don’t finally ignite this long term effort to update the buildings, we will suffer as a town, big time. 

The vast majority of these buildings are almost 100 years old and falling apart. And how this multi-year cycle of borrowing and improvements are administered, matters. That’s why I’ve asked Superintendent Ponds to strongly consider creating a Citizen Review Board for this project that will take us through the end of this decade.

Your yes vote allows the district not just to initiate the borrowing and project planning but importantly — accept $58 million from Trenton, something no one can guarantee will be on the table in the future.

The impact on taxes is real and that’s something you have to wrap your head around for you and your family. But it isn’t right away, phases in over time and is mitigated by two important state programs: The property tax freeze for seniors and the ANCHOR property tax rebate program.

Click to learn more about the Property Tax Freeze for Seniors

Click to learn more about the ANCHOR property tax rebate

Put yourself back in the frame of mind of the pandemic, when we couldn’t open schools or when we did — kids had to be bundled up so the windows could be kept open. Have you been paying attention to the alarming increase in Respiratory Synctial Virus Infection in kids?

We have got to get the ball rolling on updating the boilers, ventilation systems and for the first time — adding air conditioning. Voting YES on the school bond will allow the district to get to work on this vital upgrade to ALL of the schools.

This is a big ask of you. I call it a bitter pill that we have to swallow. But we have to do it. Even if you don’t have kids in the school or your kids have gone through … even if you’re a young voter and a little resentful that this didn’t get done in time for your education journey; let’s think about the next generation of kids.

Teachers, education professionals and students shouldn’t have to operate and learn in such deteriorating environments. We know that the learning environment has a significant effect, one way or other on student performance.

And if you care about the value of your home and that’s part of your nest egg / retirement plan (it certainly is for me); Realtors will tell you that there is nothing that affects home values more than the quality of education and quality of schools in a community.

Don’t let the legendary allure of Montclair — the reputation so many of you built, take this hit.

VOTE YES ON THE SCHOOL BOND QUESTION ON YOUR BALLOT

If you have a mail-in ballot, please vote yes and return it as soon as possible. The system shows us that WAAAAYYY too many ballots are sitting on dining tables or kitchen islands and haven’t been returned. Get those in.

If you’re voting early, that start this weekend and continues through Monday. Here’s where you can vote.

Of if you’re voting on Election Day on November 8th — same thing — don’t forget to make your way to this question and VOTE YES to kickstart a multi-year process to Rebuild Montclair Schools! Find your polling place here.