The following statement is being shared on the Essex County Public Schools website on behalf of the Essex County School Board.

Yesterday evening (1/7/2026), the Essex County School Board convened for our first meeting of 2026 with three new members to thoughtfully and deliberately chart a path forward for Essex County Public Schools. As part of that effort, the Board met with its legal counsel in closed session to ensure we fully understand the options available to promote long-term stability, strengthen sound governance, and protect the division’s ability to serve students with excellence. While the Board cannot discuss privileged legal advice or confidential matters, we want our community to know this: we are united in purpose and focused on steady, responsible leadership that keeps students at the center of every decision.

Essex County Public Schools exists to help every child learn, grow, and succeed, and the Board is committed to meeting that mission with urgency, care, and high expectations. We are listening, we are working, and we are determined to restore confidence through professionalism, collaboration, and clear priorities. Our community deserves a school division defined by opportunity, consistency, and pride, and our students deserve classrooms where learning is protected and potential is celebrated. The Board will continue its work in the days ahead and will engage the public in appropriate ways as next steps are considered in open meeting. Together, with families, staff, and the broader Essex community, we will build a steadier future and a stronger school system worthy of our children.

Essex County Public Schools

Essex County Public Schools

James H. Cary Intermediate School Open House