Mayors Select Firm for Feasibility Study on Regional Schools Break-Up

Third time’s the charm.

Or, in this case, the third firm is the charm.

After spending a few months contemplating the commission of either Vito Gagliardi Jr. of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman in Morristown, or Center for Government Research, or CGR, based out of upstate New York, the ad-hoc committee of mayors from the Mendhams and Chesters brought in a third firm to consider conducting the study.

And that third firm has won the bid. 

On May 27 the committee heard a proposal from Ross Haber Associates, based in Millville, New Jersey. Mendham Mayor Neil Henry, also the chair of the committee, announced the late entry will take on the project.

At the heart of the study are two different models than the current regional high school district. The first includes a K-12 setting that encompasses Mendham Township, Mendham Borough, and Chester K-8 districts to be coupled with Mendham High School.

The second is to keep all K-8 districts as is, with Mendham High School breaking off from the regional school district it shares with West Morris Central High School in Washington Township, and stand as its own 9-12 school and district. Neither option incorporates inclusion of any school or district from Washington Township.

Despite the regional high school district including both Mendham and Central High Schools, Washington Township Mayor Ken Short has not been invited to join mayors  Bill Cogger (Chester Township), Bob Davis (Chester Borough), Maribeth Thomas (Mendham Township) or Henry on the ad-hoc committee. 

Each of the four towns involved is expected to codify a contract in early July that will grant Ross Haber Associates the approval needed to move forward on the study. Each of the four towns has put up $15,000 for the study. 

“All of us are hopeful that Haber & Associates can begin their work in early July,” Henry said.