JACKSON – Bids are due by October 15 for the Christa McAuliffe Middle School property that closed earlier this year.
The closure is part of the district’s ongoing restructuring and consolidation efforts following drops in state aid and enrollment. The school had a sendoff in May where former and current staff reminisced with current and former students.
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli described the school as “a beautiful, well-planned school with every amenity you could want in a school or large building. We were truly heartbroken to be selling it, however, this move is part of the difficult but necessary restructuring process for our district.”
“Whoever purchases this property will be getting an amazing facility that has served our students and community with pride,” she added.
Business Administrator Daniel Baginski emphasized the property’s strong market value saying, “the district has set a minimum asking price of $54.5 million for this property, and we are confident in its value.”
“While selling a school is never an easy decision, it allows us to be fiscally responsible and to support both the present and future of the Jackson School District,” he added. “The Jackson School District remains committed to making fiscally responsible decisions that put students first.”
Baginski said, “while selling a school we have loved for 32 years is a difficult step, the district is committed to focus on strengthening its resources and ensuring continued excellence for all students.’’
The 37.5-acre property served as a middle school until June 2025. A district document called “Property Highlights” describes it as a versatile opportunity in a growing Jackson Township neighborhood near Lakewood.
The main two-story steel and brick school building encompasses 126,305 square feet, complemented by five detached modular classrooms totaling 3,500 square feet.
The site includes ample learning spaces, administrative offices, athletic facilities, and a cafetorium with a full kitchen. The property also features 188 parking spaces, a drop-off loop, athletic fields, and is surrounded by beautiful, dense forest.
McAuliffe was described by the district as being well-equipped with modern infrastructure, including LED lighting, a Kohler 60KW backup generator, a fully integrated intercom system, CCTV access controls, and two newer boilers. Its facilities include a main gym, locker rooms, music and art rooms, science labs with prep rooms, faculty workspaces, and an expansive media center open to the second floor.
Flooring consists of durable VCT and tile, with specialty finishes in the gym and library. Utilities are robust, with electric, natural gas, city water/sewer, HVAC, and internet/phone/TV service, as well as a keyed elevator for accessibility.
The administration noted the school was strategically located in southeastern Jackson Township, the property sits in a growing residential area with nearby commercial development, benefitting from close proximity to Lakewood Township and Howell Township. Zoned for Public Facilities and Education (PFE), with a small portion of two lots in the R-1 residential zone, it provides a unique investment opportunity for redevelopment or continued institutional use.
Interested parties will have the opportunity to attend pre-bid inspections of the property on Sept. 17 and October 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bids are due by 10 a.m. on October 15 and will be received at the district’s Business Administrator’s Office at 151 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527.
Additional information about the school, including the bid specifications, property highlights and photos are available at jacksonsd.org/mcauliffesale.
For additional information or questions, contact Baginski at djbaginski@jacksonsd.org.
