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“This is future planning,” Borough Councilman Joel Brizzi said.
The council applied to the Bergen County Community Development for the grant on Sept. 15, specifically to purchase a home on Uhland Street, which abuts the Alfred S. Faust Intermediate School property.
The borough is in negotiations to buy the property, which became available after the owner died.
Preparations for a possible school expansion began 15 years ago.
“East Rutherford is a blue-collar town,” Schools Supt. Joseph Abate said. “There are factories that are closing and being knocked down with developers attempting to build condos and homes on the property.”
“We knew the ideal thing to do is to expand on an existing school as opposed to building a new school,” Brizzi said.
The borough has purchased two other surrounding homes near Faust School, one on Uhland Street and another on Grove Street. The last home would help square off the property.
Last year a study was done on the impact of construction and a recent baby boom that anticipates 158 new students over five years.
However, Abate said the study didn't include new, large housing developments that have since been approved.
“If you look at the enrollment difference from the end of last year to the beginning of this year, we had 50 more students enroll,” Abate said. “So they are coming.”
Proposals will be presented to the public at the Oct. 22 Board of Education meeting.
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