TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—An anticipated influx of schoolchildren — from a variety of causes — is driving an expansion plan for Washington Elementary School, 600 School St.
According to superintendent Jill Mortimer to families on Dec. 9, 2022, “The district initiated the process of planning for an expansion to Washington Elementary School in order to accommodate an anticipated increase in enrollment in the Township. We are starting with a site survey, and then our architect will make a schematic application to the NJDOE.”
She said, “We have been advised the review of that application will take at least six months. Construction could start in the fall of 2024 and could be finished in the fall of 2026.”
Mortimer said “At this time, we are unable to plan for modular space in the meantime because we are waiting for PSE&G to install the new electrical transformer. Hence, there is not enough power for modular space. A presentation on this topic will be made at a board meeting once we have blueprints and a more solidified plan.”
Mortimer told Pascack Press last week that the district’s 2020 demographics study called out the need for more space. That study, conducted by Richard S. Grip — who holds a doctorate from Rutgers University Graduate School of Education in Educational Statistics and Measurement — projected grade-by-grade enrollments from 2020-21 through 2024-25, a five-year period.
Grip analyzed community population trends and age structure, and birth and fertility rates; examined the district’s historical enrollments, both districtwide and by grade configuration; and considered the impact of new housing developments on enrollment.
The study looked at trends and need in both the Township of Washington and the Borough of Westwood, which constitute the K-12 regional school district.
According to Grip, projected growth in the Township of Washington owes in part to:
- 57 children (K-12) projected from new developments.
- Rough estimate as bedroom distributions were not available.
- American Dream Estates – 50 (23 K-5, 13 6-8, and 14 9-12).
- 34 Maple, LLC – 7 (3 K-5, 2 6-8, and 2 9-12).
- Baseline projections were not adjusted for new students due to uncertainty of timeline of construction and occupation.
- Enrollments were projected by individual school from 2020-21 through 2024-25.
- PK-12 enrollment is projected to be 2,905 in 2024-25 (+118).
- Washington elementary is projected to have the largest gain (+63) of the four elementary schools.
- Enrollments (PK-12) were projected to increase in the next five years, “particularly at the elementary level.”
- Factors leading to projected enrollment gain include “inward migration of students in each community (likely due to increase in home resales) and increase in Washington Township birth rate.”
Grip reported inward migration is particularly evident in the elementary grades.
The report drills into some detail, including a graph of historical and projected populations 1940–2040.
Asked if the school footprint would change, Mortimer told Pascack Press, “We are in the process of determining the full scope of the project, which will result in architectural designs. The first step was to engage in a site survey in order to determine our boundaries.”
