September 16, 2024
Letter to the community

In June, I shared details regarding the ongoing financial challenges Jefferson Township Public Schools has been facing. Since the adoption of S-2 in 2018, our district has suffered increasing annual losses which now exceed $11 million per year. The cumulative loss since the inception of S-2 is just under $45 million and will continue to grow each year. The impact of this has been profound. 

To offset our budgetary crisis, the Board tasked the administration with incorporating feedback from the Stakeholder Committee into a more robust district reconfiguration plan. During this investigation, the implications of closing a school building to maximize our space and resources were thoroughly researched. The end goal is twofold: to reimagine the way we use the space we have to optimize the budget for staffing, facilities, and transportation; and, to maintain – and improve – programs, learning environments, and academic opportunities for our students. In recent weeks, key decisions have been made to meet these goals.

In continuing our commitment to full transparency, I would like to share that last night, it was announced that Cozy Lake Elementary School will close at the end of this school year and the Central Office building will be placed on the real estate market. 

At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, most preschool classes will be located at Ellen T. Briggs Elementary School, Grades K-3 will be at Stanlick and White Rock Elementary Schools, and Grades 4-12 will be held at the Middle and High School Campus (the breakdown of grades 4-12 is still to be determined). This reconfiguration will optimize our resources across the district while ensuring that students continue to receive an age-appropriate experience tailored to their developmental needs. We are committed to maintaining an environment where students can grow both academically and socially at each stage of their education.

In addition to reconfiguring the schools, it was determined that the Central Office building is the most marketable property in the district, being outside of the Highlands Act protected area. The building will be listed for sale and Central Office staff will be relocated to another district-owned space. The timing of the listing is dependent on how quickly the building is expected to sell.  

Additional information regarding the reconfiguration will continue to be shared in the upcoming months.

Thank you,

Jeanne Howe, Superintendent of Schools