Closed for Good: Parents of children at the Solomon Schechter School of the Raritan Valley in East Brunswick, N.J. were abruptly told the school would not reopen this school year. Image by solomon schechter school of the raritan valley

The Solomon Schechter School of the Raritan Valley in East Brunswick, N.J., will not re-open its doors this school year.

The abrupt decision to close the school came only three weeks before the first day of classes.

On August 7, parents received an email from the head of school stating: “Unfortunately, I have to confirm what is, for all of us, the worst possible news for our school. Based on our current financial situation, the Board has voted to begin the process of closing down the school, effective immediately.”

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Karen Skinazi, a mother of two students, said she and other parents weren’t previously aware that the 32-year-old school was struggling financially. But enrollment had dropped from 300 students at its peak to 120 students last year.

In the days following the closing announcement, parents, teachers and administrators met and initially believed that if all the students stayed enrolled and fundraising efforts were successful, that the school could remain open.

But, at the same time, families were inundated with emails and calls from other schools including neighboring Schechter schools, which offered identical financial aid packages and free busing for the students who will now need to travel further to attend Jewish day school.

At the final parents meeting, only 40 children were still enrolled, a number too small to sustain the school.

Check back soon for more on this story.

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