Mendham Council, School Board To Meet Again, Decide Dissolution Stance

MENDHAM, N.J. – A second and likely final meeting between the Mendham Borough Mayor and Council and the town’s school board has been set for June 20 with the hopes of both groups coming to a decision about the future structure of the area’s schools.

The purpose of the meeting is to continue the public dialogue begun on April 4 regarding a School Feasibility Study Report as prepared by Ross Haber Associates.

The report outlines the financial and educational impact of two hypothetical changes for the Mendham School District, which include: creating a new regional high school district serving the Mendhams and Chesters; or regionalizing all public schools in the Mendhams and Chesters (K-12).

Both options would in turn deregionalize the West Morris Regional High School District that includes West Morris Central and West Morris Mendham high schools.

“This is a continuation of the important public consultative process begun on April 4,” explained Mayor Neil Henry. “At our last meeting, the Borough Council and School Board members expressed a desire for additional time to consider the issue, as well as answer any questions they might have. Now the Borough Council and School Board are reconvening to discuss the matter further and decide jointly what option best suits Mendham’s educational goals and needs.”

Mayor Henry stated that a key goal for the June 20 meeting will be for the Borough to reach a decision on what to do in response to the Report.

“The School Feasibility Study process has been ongoing for two years,” said Henry. “It is now time for elected officials on the Mendham School Board and the Mendham Borough Council to reach a common public decision on how Mendham Borough wants to proceed, so the Borough can move on to other issues.”

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 20 at the Garabrant Center at 4 Wilson Street in Mendham. The event is open to the public.