Jackson, NJ—A grant from Jackson’s Clean Communities program helped a local organization clear hundreds of trash bags of litter from the city’s roadways this weekend.
New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide program that promotes volunteer cleanup of public lands.
This week, dozens of local groups hit the highways with trash bags and began cleaning the streets.
Each year, the township hosts these public cleanups and reimburses organizations and community groups $500 per mile of road cleaned. That funding comes from the NJ DEP’s New Jersey Clean Communities grant.
This year, approximately 30 groups, directed by Jackson DPW under Shawn Bolinksy hit the roads and cleaned up over 200 bags of trash. That doesn’t include the tires or wood pallets discarded along the roadside, which were also collected.
Jackson Council President Jennifer Kuhn worked alongside the Jackson Thunder Travel Little League to clean up Grawtown Road.
“This is a great way for the community to pitch in and help keep our roadways clean,” Councilwoman Kuhn said. I want to thank all of the organizations that came out to pitch in today.”
The Clean Communities Program was organized under Mayor Michael Reina’s administration. It was previously managed by Patricia Wood, who grew the program over the years before her passing in 2021.
- Jackson schools prepare for upcoming mergers and mascots
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Will Jackson Liberty High School retain its name and mascot when it merges with Jackson Memorial High School in September?
Will the new high school merger result in a new name? The Jackson Liberty Jaguars? The Jackson High School Lions? Jackson United? Those are just a few ideas students are residents are talking about, but the district said committees are being formed and meeting to discuss the upcoming merger.
The Jackson School District has launched a district-wide restructuring plan, initiating a series of student-centered events, committee meetings, and staffing actions aimed at unifying schools and supporting staff and students through the transition.
Following the plan’s approval earlier this year, several committees have begun working on merging efforts across the district. The district is emphasizing student and staff collaboration and announced that it will continue to provide updates to the community as efforts progress.
A major milestone took place March 7, when 600 students from both Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty high schools attended a joint assembly led by Mike Smith, a Stanford-certified life coach. The session encouraged students to explore their ability to shape the future narrative of their unified school community. The district called the assembly “a successful and empowering first step.”
Students also began participating in the High School Rebranding Committee, which is focused on decisions regarding the school’s future name, colors, and mascot. A survey will soon be sent out to collect student feedback, with the committee expected to reconvene later this month.
Committees form across school levels
Committees for merging Jackson’s middle and upper elementary schools are also underway. The Middle School Merging Committee, which includes staff and Parent-Teacher Network volunteers, held its first meeting on March 6 and discussed strategies to ease the transition for students in grades 7 and 8. Plans include interactive events before year’s end and ideas for building small communities within the new school.
The Upper Elementary Merging Committee will be formed once a principal is appointed. This group will focus on transitional programming for grades 5 and 6.
Jackson Liberty Hs – GM All head coaching and co-curricular advisor positions were posted on February 28.
District and school administrators began interviewing candidates the week of March 10, with coaches to be announced at the April Board of Education meeting.
Co-curricular advisors will be named in May, and some roles may be co-led in the 2025–2026 school year to ensure continuity during the high school merger.
- Liberty roars: Jackson cheer champs crowned state and national victors, honored by township council
JACKSON, N.J. — The Jackson Liberty High School cheerleading team was honored by the township council this month after capturing both state and national championship titles, along with top accolades for sportsmanship and performance.
The team clinched the New Jersey state championship on Feb. 23, 2025, and was also awarded the Sportsmanship Award for exemplary conduct throughout the competition.
One week later, the squad traveled to Rhode Island for the national championship, where they claimed the national title and were named Grand Champions on March 1 for earning the highest score of the competition.
The Jackson Township Council recognized the team’s accomplishments during its first meeting of April, presenting an official proclamation in honor of their historic wins.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn congratulated the cheerleaders, acknowledging their dedication and performance on both the state and national stages.
Key Points
- Jackson Liberty cheer team won state championship on February 23, 2025.
- They claimed national title and Grand Champion distinction in Rhode Island on March 1.
- The township council honored the team with a proclamation in April.
The dual victories mark a high point in the school’s athletic history and were celebrated locally by town officials and the community.
Jackson Liberty cheerleaders honored after sweeping state and national titles with top sportsmanship.