Proposed Passaic County Technical Institute Expansion and Its Impact on Little Falls

At its June 9th meeting the Passaic Valley High School (PVHS) school board adopted a resolution in opposition to the Passaic County Board of Freeholders' proposal to bond $30 million for the expansion of the Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI).

According to the resolution, the proposed expansion would increase enrollment at PCTI by approximately 800, to 1,200 students, which would place an undue financial burden on all sending Passaic County school districts as well as every property owner throughout Passaic County.

Furthermore, the resolution noted that the proposed PCTI expansion would take additional funds from the Passaic Valley Regional High School and reduce the educational programs of the district either through the reduction of staff and/or programs, while enhancing the programs at PCTI.

Similar resolutions have been passed in other Passaic County school districts including Bloomingdale,  Clifton, Hawthorne and Wanaque. 

Our elected officials must not remain silent on this issue since the proposed PCTI expansion could have an adverse effect on the quality of the PVHS educational programs and on the amount of property taxes paid by Little Falls homeowners.

Therefore it is imperative that our elected officials discuss this matter at the next town council meeting and consider adopting a resolution similar to the one passed by the PVHS school board, in opposition to the proposed $30 million expansion of PCTI.