HILLSDALE, N.J.—The Hillsdale Board of Education has approved a $4.1 million contract with MobileLease Modular Space Inc. to lease and install modular classrooms that will house George G. White Middle School students during a two-year renovation of the school’s century-old building.
The May 12 approval marks what Superintendent Robert Lombardy called “a crucial phase” in the renovation project. He said the temporary modular campus—now under construction on former baseball fields across from the school—is expected to be ready by late July to allow for a seamless start to the 2025–26 academic year.
The modular units will house students in grades 6–8, while fifth grade students will remain at Meadowbrook and Smith elementary schools for the duration of construction. District officials say this shift will reduce the number of modular classrooms needed and ease scheduling pressures at George White.
Under the contract, Hillsdale will lease 26 modular classrooms for 24 months. The cost includes delivery and installation but excludes utilities, maintenance, and site restoration. Business Administrator Sacha Pouliot said site restoration, estimated at $500,000, will take place after the units are removed in summer 2027. If the district requires additional time, it may extend the lease month-to-month at a rate of $54,800 per month.
According to district officials, the modular classrooms—refurbished rather than brand new—are commonly cycled between schools, cleaned, reset, and leased again by manufacturers. Each unit will sit atop concrete piers and be securely tied down to prevent movement from wind. Metal skirting will enclose the space between the modular floor and ground, and all units will undergo state inspection before use.
Each classroom will have its own heating, cooling, and ventilation system and be connected to the district’s electrical and communication infrastructure, including telephone service, fire alarms, and bells. While not all units will have plumbing, a dedicated modular restroom facility will serve the campus.
The campus will consist of four classroom “pods,” each with six to eight classrooms and restrooms. Interior corridors and raised walkways will simulate the layout and experience of a traditional school building. Office space at the modular campus will be limited to essential functions, with other staff working from the district’s Anthony S. DeNorchia Administration Building or other campuses.
District officials said instruction and support services will continue with minimal disruption. While some specials—such as Spanish and English Language Arts—may share classroom space at different times, the district emphasized it will not reduce staffing or combine positions to save costs.
The modular classrooms will sit within the existing fenced perimeter of the George White campus, which will remain secured and potentially enhanced. Entry and exit points will be limited, and Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEOs) will patrol the grounds. Teachers will continue to monitor student movement during the day, just as they do inside the current building.
At Meadowbrook and Smith, modular units may be added to support small-group services such as speech therapy or basic skills instruction. These decisions will be made once the district has more information on enrollment and site capacity.
The $4.1 million modular lease is part of the $62.4 million school bond referendum approved by voters in September 2023. In December, the district issued a $15 million, 20-year bond to fund early project costs. Officials estimate the bond will cost the average assessed home about $120 annually, or $10 per month.
“As June unfolds, we anticipate significant activity in the establishment of the modular campus,” Lombardy said. “Following the commencement of this construction activity, the modular campus is slated to be ready by late July to welcome students for the start of the 2025–26 school year.”
The board awarded the contract through a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey.