Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Montclair’s $20M school crisis could change state law

Be sure to catch Montclair Dance Festival Returns with 4 free hours of Dance in Downtown Montclair on the Montclair Patch calendar

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Sunday September 27th Patch AM
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Hello again Montclair! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Montclair's $20M school crisis could change state law
  • How Glenfield's new media center is reshaping learning in Montclair schools
  • How Montclair State designs search committees to boost fair, diverse hiring

Also on today's calendar: Montclair Dance Festival Returns with 4 free hours of Dance in Downtown Montclair and 21 more events.

Today's riddle: What are the two favorite words for a shark to hear? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Windy; rain becoming steadier, with a high of 65 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Monday: Occasional rain and drizzle, temps: high: 63, low: 58.
  • Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and warmer, with a high of 72 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Montclair's $20M School Crisis Helps Spur N.J. Lawmakers' Push for Earlier Warnings (montclairlocal.news) — Montclair families are still feeling the impact of a nearly $20 million school budget crisis that triggered more than 100 layoff notices and a tax hike, and now state lawmakers are responding. A new package of bills, inspired in part by Montclair's ordeal, aims to catch deficits earlier and tighten fiscal oversight, which could change how the local district tracks and reports its finances going forward.
   

2. Glenfield's New Media Center Marks Milestone in Montclair Schools' Modernization (tapinto.net) — Glenfield Middle School has opened a flexible new media center, one of several bond-funded upgrades now rolling out across Montclair schools. District leaders say the project is a visible example of how March's narrowly approved referendum money is being spent, while acknowledging many buildings still need work. The space blends traditional books with digital tools to support modern learning.
   

3. Search Committee Composition (montclair.edu) — Montclair State University is outlining how its search committees are structured to support equal opportunity and diversity in hiring, which matters for anyone seeking jobs or serving on committees there. The guidance explains how federal rules shape data collection on applicants and how the university uses those requirements to promote fairness and a more inclusive campus workforce that reflects New Jersey's diversity.
   

4. Labor Relations (montclair.edu) — Montclair State University employees in town can turn to the Labor Relations office for help interpreting union contracts, resolving grievances, and understanding which support channel—labor or employee relations—is right for their situation. The department works with several unions, maintains collective bargaining agreements, and offers online guides so faculty and staff can quickly find representation details and contact the right team for workplace concerns.
   

5. New Montclair Gelato Shop, Rutt's Hut at Prudential Center, Plus More News You Missed in Montclair + Essex County (themontclairgirl.com) — A new gelato shop has opened on Church Street and Montclair is weighing a local jitney or shuttle service, with a community meeting set for September 30 to gather feedback. This week's roundup also covers a new movement studio, a reading garden at Cooper School, a major YMCA renovation, and funding for Montclair's ambulance unit, plus other Essex County developments.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi all, looking for a REAL, reputable, reliable, trustworthy credit repair professional that does this for a living and has an established clientele, website, references or proof.
    If you scam, or don't really do this for real, don't bother, Thank you. (Nextdoor Montclair South End)
  • There is an emergency vehicle on Exit 13: First St...
    There is an emergency vehicle on Exit 13: First St » Branch Brook Park / Rutgers Health Sciences / NJIT reported at 10:58 PM. "Tow Truck on Roadside" (Nextdoor )
  • Bluemercury posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate, Montclair in Montclair. Apply here.
  • Energy Transfer, LP posted a job opening for Shift Manager - $17.29-$23.78/hr - Sunoco Store #7747, Brookdale North Rest Area, Garden State Parkway, Bloomfield, NJ in Bloomfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Montclair here.

Ok Montclair! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "MAN OVERBOARD!" (Thank you M J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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