No. 5 prize goes to Shulamith; Girls’ school will occupy Cedarhurst building in Sept, sidetracking Inwood move

The Shulamith School for Girls will become an all-Cedarhurst institution in September, thanks to a deal unanimously approved Tuesday night by the Lawrence School District.

The Orthodox day school was awarded a $500,000 one year lease with a one year option to the No. 5 public school at 305 Cedarhurst Ave. The board had previously resolved to close No. 5 this June because the district has excess capacity.

Shulamith was planning to move to the Forest Labs property it acquired in Inwood — but that properly is anything but move-in-ready as is the fully operational No. 5 building.

In a statement to its families, Shulamith said Shulamith said the Inwood site “remains a significant asset” and the No. 5 lease will allow them to evaluate their options “in the coming weeks and months.”

As a result of the deal for No. 5, Schulamith will be able to consolidate its Lower and Middle Divisions and house them together under one roof with a new high school that is set to launch in September. The Lower and Middle Divisions are currently housed at Congregations Beth El and Sons of Israel. The Shulamith pre-school will remain separate.

The Shulamith statement, signed by President Ari J. Cohen and Executive Director Rabbi Perry Tirschwell, lauded the new facility as a “beautiful, well-maintained premises in the heart of the Five Towns [including] spacious classrooms with abundant natural lighting, high ceilings, comfortable office space, a gym, outdoor playground and courts, parking and a 400+ seat auditorium.”

Lawrence School Board President Murray Forman said several institutions were approached regarding the No. 5 site but that “Shulamith offered the highest rent and most favorable option for the district.”

“We have a short-term tenant while we assess the long-term strategy,” Forman said.

In addition to receiving rent, the Lawrence district expects to save around $800,000 in operating expenses as Shulamith assumes responsibility for building maintenance, officials said.

Gala dinner takes Shulmaith to ‘next level’: See story on page 9.