North Bergen junior high school opening delayed another year

It’ll be yet another year before middle-schoolers will have a school of their own in North Bergen.

The long-delayed North Bergen Junior High School West Campus will not open in the fall as planned, Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Solter said Thursday.

Watch More

Construction on the new school at the former High Tech High School campus began in March 2022, following delays caused by several factors, including the shutdown of construction activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the superintendent said. The latest delays are due to the death of the district’s construction manager who was handling the project and continued global supply chain issues, he added. The district had previously announced in January that the school was on track for a fall 2023 opening.

“It’s unfortunate that construction delays outside of the district’s control have led to the opening of this wonderful new school being postponed, however we are certain that this is the only responsible course of action in order to ensure that our students are safe and able to learn in the best possible facilities we can provide,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Solter said.

The $65 million project, which includes renovations to North Bergen High School, was initially projected to be completed by September 2021. But it was pushed back one year, and then another.

The renovations were made possible by a 2018 referendum approved by North Bergen voters that called for a $60 million bond for the school realignment, under which the township purchased the former High Tech. The township was also given $10 million the 2021 state budget to advance plan.

When it finally opens, the school will unite all seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders in the district on one campus.

With seventh- and eighth-graders moving out of the elementary schools, pre-K and kindergarten will take their place, except for at Horace Mann Elementary School and Robert Fulton Elementary School, which will still start at first grade.

Currently, the pre-K program is housed in trailers in Braddock Park — in violation of Green Acres regulations. North Bergen has applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection to make the trailer site, inside an athletic complex, permanent.

With all seventh- and eighth-graders on the same campus, Solter previously told the Journal he believes the district will be better preparing them for high school and offering a more mature, age-appropriate school experience.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.