$300,000 Grant for Nutley-Bloomfield Alternative School
• Congressman Pascrell Outlines Program at NHS Yesterday
May 4, 2010 – Congressman Bill Pascrell visited Nutley yesterday to announce that a $300,000 federal grant has been finalized for shared alternative high school devoted to students who have difficulty learning in traditional classroom environments.
Nutley will be joining with Bloomfield in utilizing the Bridges Academy in Bloomfield. The buildingpresently accomodates 40 students from Bloomfield but has room for 100. Nutley currently pays individual tuition fees to out-of-town schools for local students with learning disabilities.
Superintendent Joseph Zarra announced the likelihood of the joint Bloomfield-Nutley of the Bloomfield-Nutley program to Board of Education members earlier this year.
Congressman Pascrell's visit yesterday to announce receipt of the $300,000 grant was the final step in assuring the new program can start in September.
Nutley High School Principal Gregory Catrambone said "our vision and our mission has always been to have a career component for our students."
Congressman Pascrell said "there is a large segment of young people who, for many unique reasons -- will
benefit from an unconventional educational environment." Many of the students enrolled in alternative high schools are frequently in trouble at conventional schools and experience a difficult home life.
