NBBOE To Offer Free, Full Day Pre-K & End Use of Braddock Park Trailers In Favor of Permanent Structure

**THIS STORY CONTAINS ADDITIONAL UPDATED INFORMATION                                                                                                                                                                In a major announcement on Monday morning, the North Bergen school district said it will offer FREE, full day Pre-K classes for the first time starting in September 2025 as part of its School Realignment Plan while ultimately ending the use of temporary pre-K trailers in James J. Braddock Park.

A press release from the township states, “Pre-K 4 will be open to all North Bergen students who turn four years old on or before October 1st, and classes will be held in neighborhood elementary schools. The district will also offer FREE Pre-K 3 on a limited basis, with 60 slots available to students from families who fall below federal poverty guidelines. Pre-K 3 classes will be held at a local Head Start school location that meets state licensing standards and is contracting with the North Bergen school district.”

In an email to Hudson TV, Amanda B. Martinez, the Executive Assistant to Rebecca Acosta, the Executive Vice President of North Hudson Community Action Corporation, stated, “while the Pre-K 3 program is indeed being offered through Head Start, in this case, it’s operated by North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) in partnership with the North Bergen school district. The program will be housed at our North Bergen location.”

Registration for Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 will begin on Thursday, May 1st and must be done in-person at the North Bergen Pre-K Center, 8701 Boulevard East within Braddock Park, from 9:30am-2:00pm. Slots are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. 

The  press release goes on to say, “As part of the district’s School Realignment Plan, which includes the opening of the new North Bergen Junior High School this September, the district will no longer utilize the current classroom trailers located within Braddock Park. North Bergen will continue to pursue the ongoing Diversion Process with the State Department of Environmental Protection, with an ultimate goal of creating a permanent modular classroom building at the site that will allow the district to expand free full day Pre-K 3 to additional students.”

Mayor Nicholas Sacco stated, “Free Full Day Pre-K will be a game changer for parents in North Bergen who will not only see their children begin their educational journey with the best possible start, but will also save an estimated $10,000 per year by no longer being forced to pay out-of-pocket for daycare.  I would like to commend Superintendent Solter, our school district administrative team and our Board of Education for their tremendous leadership and commitment to our children and our community. The North Bergen school district has always produced exceptional results despite having limited financial resources, and this announcement continues that legacy.”

Superintendent of Schools George Solter added, “Numerous studies have shown the tremendous benefits of early childhood education and the North Bergen school district is proud to offer free full day Pre-K programs for the first time to better meet the needs of both our students and parents.  We look forward to welcoming more young students into our district and giving them the same outstanding educational experience that we have been providing at our Pre-K program for many years, and we are hopeful that we will be able to expand these services to more children if our facilities are able to accommodate that goal.”

In an email to Hudson TV, North Bergen resident Robert Walden provided information he received on December 17, 2024 from North Bergen Board of Education attorney Jack Gillman which contradicts the information provided in today’s press release from the township and Board of Education.  In an OPRA request, Walden asked for information on the township’s pre-school enrollment totals for the 2024-2025 school year.

Walden stated, “North Bergen CURRENTLY has an enrollment of 189 students, including 14 full-time students.  This is not the first time that the North Bergen Preschool has offered full-day preschool, contrary to North Bergen’s misinformation in its press release.”

Walden provided the following information he received from Mr. Gillman in response to his OPRA request:

The new, North Bergen Junior High School, also dubbed the west campus, will be located in the former High Tech High School on Tonnelle Avenue.  The site is currently undergoing major renovations in order to accommodate the incoming students in September 2025.