As part of the district’s ongoing restructuring and consolidation efforts, the Jackson School District has officially put the Christa McAuliffe Middle School property up for sale and will receive bids on Oct. 15, 2025.
“Christa McAuliffe Middle School is a beautiful, well-planned school with every amenity you could want in a school or large building,” said Superintendent of Schools Nicole Pormilli. “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.”
Business Administrator Daniel Baginski emphasized the property’s strong market value.
“The district has set a minimum asking price of $54.5 million for this property, and we are confident in its value,’’ he said. “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.’’
The expansive 37.5-acre property, which served as a middle school until June 2025, offers 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.
The building is 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.
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.
“The Jackson School District remains committed to making fiscally responsible decisions that put students first, said Baginski. “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.’’
Of course the ayno yehudim are squealing like chazayrim about this, but if you don’t have students to fill these places, why should the town/city keep them? Just to have students bussed in so that you could pay extra taxes to teach students from other locations? That’s insane! The city should sell it. They’ll make their cash on it. And if the school ends up being sold to a Jewish institution, so be it because it means you’re going to have more people moving in and those people will be paying taxes to the city of Jackson or whatever Jackson is.
Of course unfortunately some would like to live in squalor as opposed to having a Jewish neighbor.
Not sure what your last statement means. Can you explain?
I can’t believe Lakewood scoop moderator actually let this get posted. It is written with a disgusting tone.
Ich bin a yid.
Extremely hateful antigentil post. Shame on you. Needs to be said? No take you and your hateful comments elsewhere. It’s people like you that creates and maintains division
Exactly!!!
Scoop posts this hateful comments but doesn’t post mine calling it out. That tells me alot
who can forget the Challenger disaster?
BMG Jackson branch?
The Jackson school district does have enough students to fill it however due to current school funding (TY Murphy) many districts not only Jackson are facing severe budget cuts and unfortunately need to sell schools.
It is happening in many other districts. Jackson was known for being one of the many good public school districts in the state. It’s a shame it has come to this. We can only blame Murphy. Think about who you vote for in Nov….
Many families from jackson have moved out. Numbers have dropped.