Referendum projects include a transformative two-story addition to create separate schools under one roof at Brearley Middle-High School.
A generation ago, the Kenilworth community fought for Brearley to reopen under local control. The school had previously operated as part of a regional district.
By rallying around Kenilworth pride, parents and district leaders reclaimed their school and the opportunity to provide K-12 public education in the borough.
The district proposed another revolutionary move to structurally divide the Middle and High School -- adding space and accelerating learning for each school population. That project and related upgrades made through the referendum will fundamentally change Brearley, bringing its facilities on par with surrounding districts, and positioning Kenilworth for more innovation and advancement.
PROJECT PLAYLIST: Inside 'Taking the Leap'
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Referendum projects at a glance
A 'true' Middle School
Second-floor expansion creates space for more dedicated classrooms, 6th-graders' move from Harding
Clearly marked main entrance for Middle School
Dedicated Middle School cafeteria/gym
Complete structural separation means Middle School students would no longer have to squeeze past High School students in the halls
New classrooms for art and music
Creates separation between middle school and high school, without constructing a separate building.
"Middle School is its own time to develop, and it needs to have its own sense of climate and personality, its own feel, rather than just being on the on-deck circle.”
- Jeremy Davies, Brearley MS-HS principal
Modern, inviting auditoriums
Harding Elementary will turn 100 in the 2022-23 school year, and the auditorium is showing its age
The Harding auditorium has never had a complete renovation, meaning some portions of the room date back a century
The Harding and Brearley auditoriums are long overdue for new ceiling, floors, and seats
Brearley’s auditorium also would receive a new stage floor and sound booth
Improved facilities would enhance the experience for students involved in music and performing arts
At left: Concept photos of renovated auditorium at Brearley Middle-High School (top) and the current Brearley auditorium.
More space for pre-K
Space freed up at Harding by 6th-graders' move to Brearley would allow much-needed expansion of pre-K
With a higher demand for pre-K than available seats, the district always has a waiting list
More space means more families could benefit from pre-K with certified teachers
“I love teaching kids how to love school.”
- Erin Healy, pre-K teacher
New turf and track, improved fields
Synthetic turf field could be used by football and soccer teams in most weather conditions
Turf is already in place for most Union County school districts
Replacing Brearley’s track would have broad benefits, as it is regularly used by the community as well as students
Grass fields for baseball and soccer would be regraded to ensure an even playing surface
High-tech wing for High School
Brearley first-floor addition would be dedicated to High School science classrooms and labs, reflecting the need to teach 21st-century skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
Middle School students would get access to the high school-level labs on the second floor
Brearley students would learn in modern science labs like this one.
Units for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, like the one on the left side of this classroom, would be replaced with more modern models.
Heating/cooling/air quality upgrades
Every classroom in the district would get new, energy efficient (HVAC) heating, ventilation and air conditioning units.
Operating efficiency would result in lower energy bills
Brearley’s auxiliary gym would get air conditioning and become the new Middle School gym and cafeteria
The entire HVAC system would be monitored by an energy-saving building management system.
The district has leveraged other sources of available funding for HVAC upgrades, including the state's Energy Savings Improvement Program and Solar Power Purchasing Agreement