Decision Made On Plan To Close Montclair School: See Latest Update

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair Public School District is moving forward with a plan to close one of its schools and turn it into a pre-K facility.

On Wednesday evening, the board of education unanimously voted in favor of a resolution involving Renaissance Middle School (read it below).

Administrators are proposing to “repurpose” the school into an early learning center. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, all Montclair students would attend one of the district’s two other middle schools: Buzz Aldrin or Glenfield.

The move is expected to generate nearly $2.3 million in annual savings through operational efficiencies and staffing adjustments, which would help the district cope with an ongoing financial crisis.

Administrators have already looked to staff cuts as one way of balancing the books. More than 100 staff members in the Montclair Public School District were laid off or impacted by a “reduction in force” notice last fall, although some of them were eventually hired back.

The resolution approved Wednesday allows administrators to submit an application for the repurposing of Renaissance Middle School to the New Jersey Department of Education – getting the ball rolling on the state approval process.

The decision didn’t come without tears, however.

“Renaissance is personal to me,” board president Yvonne Bouknight said, her voice heavy with emotion.

Several teachers and parents also mourned the decision at Wednesday’s board meeting.

“This week, my students have asked if I know where they are going next year and if I will be going with them – my heart breaks,” one teacher said.

Montclair School Superintendent Ruth Turner gave a presentation about the plan to close Renaissance Middle School at the board of education’s meeting on March 11. See the slideshow here.

Here are two things to know about the proposal, Turner said:

WHY IS THIS CHANGE NEEDED? – “Our district faces a structural budget deficit that requires us to align our resources with the realities of today's enrollment. District-wide middle school enrollment has declined steadily over the past decade, from 1,601 students in 2014-2015 to 1,365 today. Projections show enrollment remaining between 1,310 and 1,360 through 2031-2032. Operating three middle school buildings for this number of students spreads our resources across facilities that are not fully utilized. Buzz Aldrin and Glenfield Middle Schools have a combined capacity of 1,528 students based on current scheduling, which is well above projected enrollment for the foreseeable future. This is not a reaction to a temporary fluctuation. It is a strategic, data-driven response to sustained enrollment decline, and one that we have made regardless of the final outcome of the [March 10 special election] , which is still pending.”

WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS? – “Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all middle school students will attend either Buzz Aldrin or Glenfield. Current Renaissance 6th and 7th graders and current CHB 5th graders will be encouraged to participate in our standard re-ranking process to select their preferred placement. Sibling preference and other priority criteria will be honored. Families will have the opportunity to tour both schools, and we’ll be providing information sessions, translated materials, and direct outreach so every family can make an informed and confident choice. Placement request forms are open now through April 17, with placement notifications going out to Renaissance families by May 1.”

RENAISSANCE RESOLUTION

Here’s the full text of the resolution involving Renaissance School:

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW JERSEY, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO NEW JERSEY’S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERMITTING THE DISTRICT TO REPURPOSE RENAISSANCE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HOUSE PRESCHOOL STUDENTS BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Township of Montclair in the County of Essex, New Jersey (“Board”) has determined that a budget deficit exists for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year is significant; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that necessary measures must be taken to address the budget deficit, including but not limited to significant cuts to the staff members and educational programs of the District; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that sufficient school-building capacity exists at Glenfield Middle School (“Glenfield”) and Buzz Aldrin Middle School (“Buzz Aldrin”) to house students in the sixth and seventh-grade students currently attending Renaissance Middle School, as well as all incoming fifth-grade students for the five years following the closure; and

WHEREAS, the re-assignment of students to Glenfield and Buzz Aldrin will not produce, sustain, or contribute to unlawful segregation, separation, or isolation of student populations on the basis of race or national origin or any other protected characteristic; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that by closing Renaissance Middle School and repurposing that school to house the District’s preschool students, it will be able to save approximately $2,300,000 due to associated staff reductions; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Township of Montclair in the County of Essex, New Jersey, hereby authorizes and directs the Superintendent and the Interim Business Administrator to request from the Executive County Superintendent of Essex County (“ECS”), his recommendation relative to the closure of Renaissance Middle School; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon receipt of the ECS’s recommendation to close Renaissance Middle School, the Superintendent, and the Interim Business Administrator are hereby authorized and directed to submit to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Division of Administration and Finance (“Division”), an application pursuant to, and in compliance with, N.J.A.C. 6A:26-7.5 and Board Policy 7130 to close Renaissance Middle School, effective with the start of the 2026-2027 school year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent and the Interim Business Administrator are hereby authorized and directed to further submit to the Division such application, as may be necessary to open the building currently known as Renaissance Middle School, as a school facility appropriate to house the District’s preschool students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Interim Business Administrator is hereby authorized to include with said application(s) such proposed amendments to the District’s Long-Range Facilities Plan (“LRFP”) as are directly consistent with and which are necessary in order to support the aforesaid application(s) and the foregoing repurposing of Renaissance Middle School; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent and Interim Business Administrator shall provide appropriate notification to the Board at the next succeeding Board meeting of such proposed changes to the Board’s LRFP in order to secure the Board’s approval of same; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent and the Interim Business Administrator are hereby authorized to take such further action as is necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes of this Resolution.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.