Nutley Buys Building For School District, No Tax Increase: Officials

NUTLEY, NJ — The Township of Nutley has purchased a building on Bloomfield Avenue with plans to rent it to the local public school district. The goal? To create some much-needed space for pre-K students.

Earlier this week, the Nutley Board of Commissioners passed two ordinances and a resolution that approved a bond to purchase the building at 777 Bloomfield Avenue. It will be leased to the Nutley Board of Education for preschool classrooms and board offices.

According to a statement from the district:

“In the fall of 2025, ten preschool classrooms will open at 777 Bloomfield Avenue to expand the district’s state-funded Raising Raiders preschool program. The board of education will move its offices to the third floor of that space.”

But that’s not all, school administrators added:

“Within the next two years, this purchase will assist the district in the transition of sixth grade students out of the elementary schools and into John H. Walker Middle School, making it a true 6-8 middle school.”

The joint venture is part of the “One Nutley Partnership,” an effort between the two government bodies to combine their resources in the best interest of the township. See Related: Progress In Nutley: School, Town Partnership Is Working, Officials Say

NUTLEY COMMISSIONERS: ‘A CREATIVE STEP FORWARD’

Nutley Commissioner Tom Evans, the municipal revenue and finance director, said the purchase will be paid for by lease payments from the board of education (in place of the lease payments the board of education currently pays for office space) along with funds generated from commercial taxes created by an ON3 payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement.

The purchase will not increase municipal taxes for residential taxpayers, Evans said.

Evans and the other members of the commissioner board released a statement about the purchase:

“For more than a decade, the school board has attempted to pass multi-million-dollar referendums to expand John H. Walker Middle School, only to be voted down by residents. This purchase will enable the 6th grade to relocate to the middle school and free up classroom space in elementary schools, allowing them to focus on delivering age-appropriate education while significantly expanding preschool access for families in Nutley at a fraction of the cost.”

The commissioner board’s statement continues:

“Together, these actions will help prevent stagnation and ensure the continued success of Nutley Public Schools, while protecting and increasing property values. With the introduction of this bond ordinance, the township will acquire 777 Bloomfield Avenue for $9.8 million, including renovation costs and compliance with prevailing wage laws. The building will be new and fully prepared to receive pre-K students and district staff by September 2025, with the 6th grade transitioning to a middle school model by Sept. 1, 2026.”

By transitioning to a K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 model, the township will align with research that supports better outcomes for student development, officials said.

The project also creates opportunities to reassess the need for temporary classroom trailers and reduce operating costs for the district, officials said. See Related: Nutley Property Taxes Will Rise Under New School Budget

Several commissioners supported the purchase, saying it’s a win for Nutley residents.

It’s also a win for the district’s preschool program, Evans said.

“Several months ago, the school district shared that without more classroom space to meet pre-K demand the district risked losing state grant funds for this program,” Evans said. “It was clear, we could not allow this to happen. We needed to find a workable and affordable solution.”

“After much discussion, we did,” he added.

“I think this is a creative step forward,” Joseph Scarpelli agreed.

“A couple of years ago, we all came together to find a solution to the overcrowding,” Scarpelli said. “This not only opens up the elementary schools, but also provides for pre-K. And I think we will see strides in our academics that we would have not seen otherwise. It'll increase our property values and is a great step forward at a fraction of the cost of expanding the middle school.”

Mauro Tucci opined that with the community’s children, officials “only get one shot.”

“There are no do-overs,” Tucci said. “So the improvement of our children's education is probably the most important thing that we can do here in Nutley.”

Alphonse Petracco said the formula for success is simple: “good people want good schools for their kids.”

“I always say that how our schools go is how our town will go,” Petracco commented.

Nutley Mayor John Kelly III also cheered for the plan.

“We're a victim of our own success,” Kelly said. “The school system is great, and people want to come here, which ultimately puts strain on it. So we need to find more ways to improve and be better and always stay ahead of the curve. That way, our kids can go out and continue to make this town shine and continue to be a destination for all people from all walks of life.”

“This partnership is a great thing and it’s only getting started,” the mayor said.

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