Mendham Borough School District (MBSD) administrators and Board of Education members celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The ceremony honored the start of construction for the Performing Arts Center addition at Mountain View Middle School (MVMS), approved by voters in a 2025 bond referendum.
“The arts shape and enrich the learning environment in our Mendham Borough schools,” said Superintendent Mitzi Morillo, Ed.D. “This groundbreaking affirms this passion and is the result of many years of planning to maintain the level of education excellence that the community expects for its students.”
More than an auditorium, the center includes a dedicated, oversized classroom for public speaking, music exploration, and other arts-related courses. Young artists will showcase their talents on the new stage that boasts state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. The new Performing Arts Center will serve as a vibrant gathering space for the entire school community.
Dr. Morillo opened the Board of Education meeting by personally thanking the Board of Education, School Business Administrator Vanessa Wolsky, key educators and volunteers for sharing their perspectives and dedication to informing the entire community about the 2025 bond referendum.
“Thank you to the Borough residents, who answered the call when we asked for your support,” said Dr. Morillo. “We would not be able to get this scale of improvements complete in this short amount of time, without the funding from a bond referendum.”
Board President Stephen McLaud shared that the administrators and Board of Education remain committed to open communication throughout the construction process.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our neighbors and school community for your patience as we expand our educational offerings,” said McLaud. “We [the Board and administrators] will continue our due diligence to ensure the safety of the students, staff and community.”
MBSD’s architect, Gianforcaro Architects, Engineers, & Planners, shared remarks at the Board of Education meeting as well. The firm’s principal, Anthony Gianforcaro, presented floorplans and renderings of the addition and recalled his time as a student.
“As an alumnus, I’m proud to help usher in the next phase of education for Mendham Borough,” said Gianforcaro. “This has truly been a full circle moment. I look forward to the completion of the project, and the opportunities this will bring for the children.”
Legacy Construction Management, Inc. also attended the groundbreaking ceremony to share safety precautions in place during construction.
“We’re your dedicated advocate during construction. That means our role is to ensure the contractor follows the plans and keep the project on schedule and on budget,” said President Brian Meade.
The construction management group also collaborates with the district and contractors to minimize disruptions, especially during state testing, and ensure safety.
Project Executive Conor O’Brien added, “We like to say our responsibility starts outside the construction zone. We work hard to minimize interruptions, so construction does not interfere with the day-to-day life of the school and Mendham Borough community.”
The presentation also shared the progress of other referendum-related construction. Major updates completed at Hilltop School include roof and boiler upgrades to boost efficiency. At MVMS, the security vestibule was completed, which enhances safety and improves daily operations, and the new, dedicated fifth grade science lab was completed.
See the updates in action and learn more about the improvements by visiting the district's dedicated website: https://www.mendhamboro.org/referendum.