School Board, Council Still Undecided On Mendham's Role In District Dissolution

MENDHAM, N.J. – While a joint meeting between the Mendham Borough Council and Mendham Board of Education was fruitful, no conclusions have yet been drawn on the borough’s stance on what to do with a feasibility study analyzing the future of local school districts.

The two bodies met this week to hear public comment and discuss two options based on a feasibility study delivered last year.

The options include the Mendham Borough, Township, and Chester School districts joining Mendham High School to become one large district; or Mendham High School becoming its own district and leaving the local schools as they are. Both options would require Mendham High School to break away from West Morris Central High School in the regional school district.

See related: High School Dissolution Would Save $7M For Mendham, Chester Residents, Study Shows

Both the Mendham school board and town council did not come to a conclusion this week, but plan on meeting once more at some point in the next month to finalize a decision, Mayor Neil Henry said.

“The feedback from everybody who attended was extremely valuable,” Henry told Patch. “There is no doubt in my mind that the Mayor and Council can work collaboratively with our local school board to reach a conclusion on this matter in the very near future which will benefit the residents of Mendham Borough who elected us to represent the taxpayers of Mendham Borough in a fair and equitable manner.”

Once the two sides settle on a date the meeting will be advertised publicly and residents will have the opportunity to attend and be heard again.