Proposal To Subdivide Laurelton School Gets OK In Brick

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District's plan to sell off the former Laurelton School took a step forward when the Brick Township Planning Board gave preliminary approval last week to the district's request to subdivide the property.

The Laurelton School property stretches between Princeton Avenue and Route 88 and includes not only the school but a secondary building the district uses for storage. The school itself dates back to 1934, but the site has been home to a school since approximately the 1870s, according to documents filed with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The Laurelton School served as an elementary school at one point, and later was used as the district's alternate school for students struggling in the regular high school setting. It was completely shut down after the 2007-08 school year. It was deemed not eligible for designation as a historic site because the building was too recent.

Proposals to sell the property have been floated several times since then, to no avail. The district first talked about subdividing the property in 2011, but previous proposals to do so failed to pass muster with the planning board.

James Edwards, the Brick schools' business administrator, said once the planning board finalizes its approval of the subdivision — likely at one of the planning board's February meetings — the school board will have to approve advertising the school part of the property to for sale. The district also will need approval for the sale from Lamont O. Repollet, the state commissioner of education, to sell the school.

If approved, the property would be sold through a sealed bidding process to the highest most responsive bidder.

"But (the district) would not be able to accept an amount for less than the appraised value, which is $620,000," Edwards said.

The school itself sits on Route 88, but the property is listed as 32-34 Princeton Ave. on the planning board agenda.

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