Leonardo, Navesink Elementaries, Bayshore Middle School Will Close At End Of June

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On Wednesday, Middletown school superintendent Jessica Alfone sent a letter home to parents on the district's plans to close three schools.

Alfone said the schools will close at the end of this school year, in June. However, her latest update provided scant few details beyond that.

Last week, the Middletown school board took a historic vote to close Leonardo and Navesink elementary school buildings, and Bayshore Middle School. The students currently at Leonardo and Navesink will be moved into Bayshore Middle School building, and the building will be renamed Bayshore Elementary School.

The district plans to have this in place when students begin the new school year in September.

In her March 4 letter, Alfone said she knows the decision the board made last week to close the schools "was difficult ... I recognize the emotions that accompany this moment, and I want you to know that they are understood and respected."

"In the coming days and weeks, additional information will be shared regarding transition plans and next steps," said Alfone.

Middletown will reduce the size of its district to 10 elementary schools that will now feed into two middle schools (Thorne and Thompson). Here is the 2026 Middletown school district's restructuring/redistricting plan.

The district said closing the schools is necessary because the Middletown school district has a budget deficit this year, which is predicted to grow in coming years. Middletown schools have a budget deficit of $3.2 million for the 2026-2027 school year, predicted to grow to $6.6-million deficit for 2027-2028, a $10-million deficit for 2028-2029 and swell to $13.9 million in 2029-2030.

Alfone said the decision to close schools had to be made, "with long-term sustainability and financial well-being ... at the forefront."

In the future, the district also plans to make improvements (including district-wide HVAC improvements) and even do some new construction and expansion, particularly at the middle and elementary schools. To do this, the school district plans to ask the taxpayers of Middletown to approve a bond (borrow money). That will be in 2027 or 2028.

The district also intends to sell properties it owns, to generate revenue for capital projects.

Middletown School Board Votes To Close 3 Schools: Leonardo, Navesink Elementaries And Bayshore Middle School (Feb. 27)

Middletown Unveils 2026 Plan To Close 2 Elementary Schools, And Bayshore Middle School (Feb. 21)

Here is Alfone's letter, sent to parents March 4: