Englewood — City officials held closed talks to decide the final fate of the Lincoln and Liberty school properties, in spite of critics who call the move long overdue.
The July 22 discussion was "a little more nitty gritty" in outlining how the city will set limitations to the schools’ sale, receive proposals and attract buyers, said City Council President Ken Rosenzweig. The council president estimated that it should take two to three months for the city to iron out a definite plan.
In 2004, school board President Glenn Garrison said that the City purchased the two properties from the Englewood Board of Education for $11 million.
The City Council had expected to sell the properties to private developers and use the two sales to pay off the schools’ balance, bonds and debt.
But the properties were never sold, accumulating close to $1 million in debt service, according to figures from Rosenzweig.
Garrison also said that the city still owes the Board of Education about $6.8 million – more than half the amount of the 2004 purchase.
Students from the Lincoln School will move to the new John Grieco Elementary School on Durie Avenue once construction is completed in January 2009. By that time, Garrison estimated that half of the central offices in the Liberty School would be relocated to various new buildings at the Cleveland and Grieco schools.
"With the Grieco School nearing completion, the time has come to dispose of these two properties," said Rosenzweig. "These two schools are a huge burden on the city’s tax rolls."
But critics like Mayor Michael Wildes said that the time has passed.
"This whole experience should’ve happened three years ago," said Wildes. "They [City Council] realize now that they have no choice and they have to be more aggressive."
Part of the problem lies with Liberty School, which houses about 80 students in an alternative school. Garrison said that a transition plan has yet to be determined because of the trouble in finding an affordable space that meets state education requirements.
"There’s not a lot of available space to move these children," said Garrison, before adding that the leases at both schools expire in 2010. "Every surrounding district is pushing for space."
Until the district finds a place to relocate, the Liberty School will not be emptied, said Garrison.
But Wildes said that the city must not wait any longer.
"I will say that just because we can’t take custody [of the two properties], you can still plan and have it all done for when they move out," he said.
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
