Communication

December 20, 2025

Dear Hillsdale Community:

As we look forward to the arrival of 2026, the Hillsdale Board of Education extends its deepest gratitude to our students, staff, families and overall community. Led by Mr. Justin Saxon, Mr. Kevin Donatello, Mr. Michael Kenduck, Mr. Sal Sileo, and Mrs. Kathleen Puerta we are confident 2026 will be another wonderful year. We wish everyone health and happiness as the December recess approaches.

Final Round of Bonding- Complete
The Hillsdale Board of Education successfully issued its second round of school bonds, totaling $47.359 million, which were assigned an 'AA' rating by S&P Global Ratings, reflecting the district's careful financial management. This favorable rating allowed the district to secure a competitive interest rate for the bonds at 3.78% controlling the borrowing cost for the community. The bonds officially closed on December 4, 2025. The proceeds of this issuance are designated to fund the modernization and expansion of the George G. White Middle School property, including renovations and a new wing, which were approved by voters to address infrastructure needs.

Demolition Work Beginning
The modernization and expansion of the George G. White Middle School campus is moving into the demolition phase, following crucial preparatory work completed this week. The electrical contractors and plumbers completed their essential "safe-offs," which involves de-energizing utilities and securing plumbing lines to ensure safety for the upcoming heavy construction. This step paves the way for the arrival of demolition personnel and equipment, which are expected on site on December 22nd. The initial work will focus on hand demolition in specific areas inside the existing building. This precise interior work will quickly be followed by the larger-scale wrecking of the multi-purpose room only, which is expected to be a key focal point of the external demolition. The entire demolition process is currently projected to take approximately four weeks to complete, after which the site will be prepared for the construction of the new components of the project.

A Delay to Remember
The George White Middle School project experienced a significant delay at the onset of our work in March 2025. This is a reality that we must keep in perspective as the project proceeds. This setback was attributed to a multi-month hold-up caused by the local construction code official at the time, and the unexpected reluctance to review and approve the plans for the modular classrooms and middle school renovations. This forced the District to utilize the State Department of Community Affairs for review of the modular campus and the main building with the addition at considerable extra cost and considerable extra time. This experience put us on an alternate timeline. Accompanying this delay are the cost escalations and inflation in construction materials that are associated with any significant construction project. These challenges underscore the complex and unpredictable nature of large-scale public works projects, confirming that the initial timelines are often fluid. Our target completion date remains July 2027.

Access to the Middle School Gymnasium
Our March 2025 delay and resulting alternate timeline have prohibited our use of the gymnasium to date. This was not part of our original plan, however, we have made alternate arrangements for student lunch, physical education class and middle school basketball. The cooperation of our students, families and staff is exemplary and we are thankful. At this time we are anticipating access to the gymnasium on or about March 2, 2026.

Sincerely,

Robert Lombardy Jr., Ed.S.
Superintendent of Schools
Hillsdale Public Schools

September 27, 2025

Dear Hillsdale Community:

The Hillsdale Public School’s family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Board of Education members for their instrumental role in the successful referendum project inclusive of the establishment of the modular campus. Mr. Justin Saxon, Mr. Kevin Donatello, Mr. Michael Kenduck, Mr. Sal Sileo, and Mrs. Kathleen Puerta demonstrated exemplary commitment and care, and we are grateful for their efforts in bringing this vital project to fruition for the Hillsdale

community.

With the school year and our modular campus up and running successfully, kindly allow the below to serve as an update on our continued progress. Modular Campus

This academic year has begun with remarkable success on our new modular campus. The thoughtful design of this temporary learning environment has proven to be a tremendous asset for both our students and staff. The clustered classrooms, connected by secure walkways, have successfully replicated the feel of a traditional school building, fostering a sense of community and ease of movement. For our students, the campus offers a dynamic and focused space for learning, while our dedicated staff have the resources they need to continue providing a high-quality education without disruption.

Initial Round of Bonding

The Hillsdale Public School District's commitment to modernizing its facilities took a significant step forward with the successful closing of its initial round of bonding in December 2024. This crucial financial milestone, following the voter-approved referendum, secured the necessary capital to begin the long-anticipated renovation and expansion of George G. White Middle School. The district is pleased to report a favorable "AA" bond rating, which enabled access to funding at a lower interest rate than initially projected.

Final Round of Bonding

The Hillsdale Public School District is scheduled to complete its second and final round of bonding in late November 2025. This critical step will secure the remaining capital needed to fully fund the voter approved George G. White Middle School renovation and expansion project.

Asbestos Abatement at George G White Middle School

This initial step in our project is being completed in three distinct phases to support continued progress in the upcoming construction work while ensuring our plan is safe and efficient. The first phase began on September 7th, 2025 in the main multipurpose room, where crews continue to work in this area. Following the completion of this area, and the onboarding of our general contractor this room will be demolished. The abatement will move to the main three-story building, which includes classrooms and building offices. The final phase will focus on the boiler room, addressing the last remaining area of concern. This structured approach allows us to methodically and safely prepare our school for the upcoming renovations, allowing the renovation and addition work to begin.

General Construction Bid

The selection of the General Contractor for the Hillsdale Public Schools referendum project was executed systematically and swiftly, while fully adhering to the New Jersey Public School Contracts Law. Following the bid opening on September 24, 2025, which featured a robust submission of competitive documents from ten qualified contractors, the Board of Education approved the firm determined to be the lowest responsible bidder on September 26th, 2025. This swift action was both necessary and imperative to facilitate immediate contractor mobilization, as the project is now operating under an amended schedule to mitigate the delays incurred at the onset of local submission in Spring 2025. By awarding this critical contract efficiently and compliantly, the Board demonstrated its commitment to both fiscal responsibility and the timely delivery of the George G. White Middle School modernization.

General Construction Work

General construction work is anticipated to begin in November 2025 with the strategic demolition of the current George G. White multi-purpose room, which includes the cafetorium and stage area, as this space requires complete rebuilding and modernization. While this demolition and subsequent reconstruction phase is underway, the internal renovation work in the main three-story building and addition of a two story wing will also commence. This carefully planned phasing is designed to maximize efficiency during our tight construction timeline. The work on the main academic core—including HVAC replacement, windows, doors roofing and classroom overhauls are planned to progress steadily.

Thank you for your continued support throughout this process. We are all part of one of the most transformative projects Hillsdale has seen in many years that will forever impact the students of today and the future for years to come.

Sincerely,

Robert Lombardy Jr., Ed.S.

Superintendent of Schools

Hillsdale Public Schools