JACKSON – The township School District has taken another step forward in selling the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School with the announcement that bids are being accepted for the school building and the land it is on.
Business Administrator Dan Baginski said, “it is a valuable, 9.9-acre property going up for sale in an aggressive real estate market. The goal is to gather as much revenue as possible to support our students and programs.”
The bid notice and bid specifications are available on the district’s website – jacksonsd.org. The deadline to receive sealed bids is 10 a.m. on Nov. 14.
The district will apply the proceeds of the sale to help offset the enormous deficit in the 2024-2025 budget caused by increasing costs and devastating aid losses totaling $22 million over seven years. In order to create a balanced and approved budget, the district employed several actions including the decision to sell Rosenauer, cutting 70 positions including administration, and reducing school, athletics, technology and facilities budgets.
The State of New Jersey provided the school district $6 million for an interest-free advanced state aid for the 2023-2024 school year to repay over the next 10 years.
Earlier this fall, hundreds of Jackson residents came out for a bittersweet tribute and farewell to the cherished elementary school. The School District invited the entire community, especially alumni and staff fortunate enough to have spent time at the school that was recently closed.
Students and staff were redistricted to a nearby elementary school and playground equipment and other items were transported to other facilities within the school district.
Teachers, parents and students participated in the “Walk to Remember” through the school. As they passed through the hallways, they read bulletin boards filled with messages. Photo albums were looked over within the school library that also featured a video presentation. There was also tile art observed on the walls of the hallway.
Family members of the school’s first principal, Sylvia Rosenauer were in attendance at the event. Just below a clock that hung above the stage area in the auditorium was the banner proclaiming the school’s motto of “Try Your Best.”
Former students got to say their goodbyes. One bulletin board message was written by Payton Holloway a former student from 2013-2021 “Earth Day we planted butterfly bushes outside in the school which are still there.”
The front mat to the school featured Rosenauer’s mascot, the roadrunner. It stated, “Where Character Counts!”
Tim Howells, a former student and Amy Howells are parents and served on the PTA Board of the school. Their message on a bulletin board post stated that when their youngest daughter started kindergarten, they were nervous but “we were quickly and warmly welcomed into the Rosenauer family.”
Amy Howells said her husband was “happy to see his kids attend the same school he once did. Being a little school sure has its advantages-everyone knows everyone. A quick smile from every teacher as you walk past, whether you’re a parent or you work there, everyone says hello and is happy to see you.”
Cassandra Vetrano was a teacher at the school for nine years. She said “one of my favorite memories at Rosenauer will always be the 3rd grade Culture Day. It was such a special event that Mrs. Lynch and I organized to celebrate our students’ differences and what makes us all special and unique.”
