Each Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon, in a room filled with the hum of 3D printers and tables scattered with prototypes, a group of high schoolers meet with a shared goal: building rockets that are able to win the American Rocketry Challenge.

The Makerspace at the Mountain Lakes Public Library is home to its very own rocketry team, Team Tungsten. The group includes Katherine Yakovets, Isabella Marotta, Evie Marotta, Josie Marotta, Jason Dimitov, Jack Wallace, Christian Lim, Andrew Matty, Medha Vavilia and mentor Richard He. Marotta Controls sponsors the team’s pursuit of model rocketry.

The team has spent months, dedicating hours to designing, testing, and refining their rockets and on April 5th, 2026, the team officially qualified for Nationals, placing among the top 10% nationwide, being one of 100 teams out of over 1,000 to make it. Team Tungsten’s achievement is especially notable because the team manufactures and designs their rockets entirely using custom 3D printing. 

After qualifying for regionals, Team Tungsten 3D printed four entirely new rockets, ensuring that they would do their best to maximize their chances for Nationals. Some of the major improvements the team made included printing custom weight sets for fine-tuning performance, improving egg capsule design to prevent breaking on impact, and fixing parachute deployment issues to make sure that their rockets would properly slow down for a stable descent back to land. Katherine Yakovets, member of Team Tungsten, explained, “We basically went back and fixed everything that went wrong at regionals.”

The American Rocketry Challenge is scored with precision. To make it to Nationals, teams aim for a flight time between 36-39 seconds and an altitude of 750 feet without the egg that is placed inside the rocket breaking upon impact. One point off second or per foot off target results in a penalty point with the goal being to have the lowest total score, similar to golf. Team Tungsten earned a score of approximately 14 points, which was well below the cutoff of around 23 points, securing their spot at Nationals. “Finding out that we qualified was amazing but not a total surprise. We knew how much work we had put in, so seeing it pay off was really rewarding and it still feels surreal” says Katherine.

Team Tungsten will be traveling to Virginia on May 16th, 2026 to participate in the Nationals Finals for $20,000 and the chance to represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge at the Farnborough or Paris Air Show. At Nationals, there are other fun challenges that teams can compete in such as a costume contest and a scavenger hunt where there is a cash prize of $500 for winners. Teams also have the opportunity to receive awards like Outstanding Mentor and Outstanding Team Advisor. 

I’m proud of the team. This is only our second year competing and we understood the challenge,” says Richard He, mentor of Team Tungsten. “Competing in Nationals is uncharted territory but we are fully prepared for anything and everything” 

While their engineering skills have strengthened, the months of creating pieces, testing rockets, and random Walmart Trips have also brought the team closer together. With just over a month until Nationals, Team Tungsten is ready to take on the American Rocketry Challenge not just as competitors, but as a team shaped by resilience and experience.

About Post Author

Janvi Singh '27

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Every May, AP testing takes over Mountain Lakes High School. “AP U.S. History score calculator” suddenly has hundreds of viewers on the site daily and, no matter how prepared someone feels walking in, they always leave feeling nervous. In light of these events, The Mountaineer team thought it would be nice to conduct an in-person survey, asking AP students what their experience was like and what advice they could give to future students (even themselves).

For this survey, we interviewed a few people who took multiple AP tests and they shared their perspective. Although it does not holistically represent all MLHS students, it does give us a good insight into what AP testing week looks like for AP students. All participants consented to doing an interview and they understood that their responses were recorded. The names of the following participants are kept anonymous.

Interviews

One junior, who took AP U.S. History, AP Physics, AP English Language, AP Calc BC and AP Research noted that their experience was “surprisingly calm.” They thought the tests were easier this year, especially some of the multiple choice questions. That seemed to be a common theme. However, they told me that when some of the FRQs were released afterwards, they felt less confident in their answers especially after their teacher went over them. Their biggest exam advice was to not think about the exam too much after you take it since it could cause more nerves. “At this point, there is nothing you can do. So just relax,” they told us.

Another student, who took AP U.S. History and AP English Language, told me that they did not study that much before the tests because they had sports obligations that they needed to go to. They said that they tried to get as much studying in beforehand but were extremely tired after practices. Their biggest piece of exam advice was to start studying earlier, especially if you know that “you are going to have stuff to do during the [AP testing] week.” 

Some students also mentioned their strategies while taking the test itself. One student, who took AP Seminar and AP World History, mentioned that the time limit was difficult for them to manage well. They told me that, oftentimes, they would run out of time on a section (during their AP World exam) and would need to rush to finish their responses. Their biggest piece of advice was to make sure to “write whatever you can.” Since AP tests score you with partial credit on many of the FRQs, writing down something can end up helping significantly in the long run.

Conclusion

Although AP tests will probably never be a student’s favorite part of the school year, the experiences shared can certainly help everyone make this time period more manageable in the future. At the end of the day, any score is worth applauding since you took a hard course and challenged yourself with the curriculum. Hopefully the scores are what you wanted and get ready for summer!

About Post Author

Ethan Wu '27

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

As a child, I certainly was not the world’s most avid Frozen fan. The movie’s songs were just so popular that I refused to take part in enjoying cult classics such as “Let it go” or “Fixer Upper.” However, as years passed, I can proudly say that Frozen is one of my top five favorite Disney movies. With lovable characters, a genuinely enticing story, intriguing worldbuilding, and of course, magical powers, the film evokes a feeling which simply cannot be replicated. Going into Mountain Lakes High School’s production of Frozen the Broadway Musical, I admit I felt a tad bit nervous. Not only had the MLHS theatre team lost many senior actors from 2024-2025 that I had become familiar with, but because I wasn’t sure how one of my favorite Disney movies would be translated on stage. Of course, these concerns were QUICKLY dismissed, as the show not only blew past my expectations, but also proved that the theatre program is constantly gaining incredible new talent each year.

My first viewing of the Frozen musical was magical. I walked into the school with some friends, being kindly greeted by Mr. Henry before I stopped to look at the amazing pictures on display from the Mountain Lakes Garden Club photo contest. As I walked into the theatre, we sat down and I was just giddy with excitement. In the first act, the musical plays out similar to how the movie does: Anna and Elsa are introduced, we learn about Elsa’s burden of becoming queen of Arandelle, and travel in search of Elsa with the legendary group of Sven (Camryn Gauthier), Kristoff (Carter Nikolsky), and Anna (Mia Bezalel). What really struck me in this first act was the incredible acting from every character on stage; there truly never was a dull moment with this cast. Of course, songs like “Love is an Open Door” featured incredible vocal and dance performances from Jayden Trogani as Hans, and Mia Bezalel as Anna, but I also found a lot of entertaining side-plots happening behind the windows on stage between other characters. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Keith Cullen’s various ‘tangos’ as the Duke of Weselton. Busting out the modern dance moves in Arendelle just really resonated with me for some reason, and Keith really fit the vibe of the duke perfectly in the show. Regarding “Love is an Open Door,” I would really like to just exclaim how elated I was to see Jayden play the role of Hans. He delivered his lines with such gusto and made me physically jump up and down with glee whenever he was on stage. Below is my reaction to seeing Jayden on stage.

It is the combination of incredible choreography along with the synergy that everyone on stage has with each other that makes the musical so entertaining to watch! Some other songs that really stood out to me this act were “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” in which Grace Shuhet (Young Elsa) and Bridget Keyt (Young Anna) delivered performances which warmed my heart and kept me smiling, and “Dangerous to Dream,” where Ella Thomas (Elsa) introduced me to an emotionally moving song which became my favorite of the show upon my second viewing. 

After I stocked up on candy and bought a stunningly gorgeous tiara from my producer friend Brandon Keyt, the second act commenced. 

I obviously have to highlight Hygge, including fantastic choreography and an incredible accent by Allesandra Wianecki (Oaken). My friends and I loved this song, laughing and singing along gleefully in our seats as we watched the whole cast perform eye-high kicks just like the Rockettes. What really impressed me this act was how big a role the ensemble played in the last few scenes. I absolutely loved when Elsa, Kristoff, and Anna are all navigating through the blizzard on the frozen lake, trying to find each other, while multiple cast members are fluidly dancing around them, mimicking the harsh wind while melodically singing “colder by the minute.” The scene was so cohesive yet frantic, it really had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation, while still making me smile in awe at the amazing performances from the stage and pit.

Overall, Frozen was such a wonderful experience, and every member of the production from crew to the cast to the pit orchestra should be proud of their fine work. The talent displayed not only by the upperclassmen, but also the multitude of underclassmen foreshadow great things to come for MLHS theatre!

About Post Author

Michael Cera '26

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

1 33 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

2 67 %

When you walk into the Mountain Lakes Public Library’s Makerspace, you can immediately sense the energy of creation with 3D printers humming, prototypes scattered across tables, and shelves lined with colorful projects made by students ranging in ages from kindergarten to high school. At the center of this activity is Ian Matty, the director and co-founder of the Makerspace program, whose vision has transformed a small idea into a thriving community hub for creativity.

Around a decade ago, Mr. Matty’s involvement began with a simple goal: finding a chess program for his sons. When none existed, he partnered with the Mountain Lakes Board of Education to start a chess group at Wildwood, which grew quickly in popularity.

During this time, he met Nish, an engineer who shared several of his robotics creations. The hands-on and approachable nature of these projects inspired Mr. Matty to introduce robotics to the chess group. In December 2016, he invited the students to spend an afternoon experimenting with robotics and craft materials. The results were surprising. Everyone was captivated by building, designing, and problem-solving.

Recognizing the potential, Mr. Matty’s wife, Christina, brought the idea to the Mountain Lakes Public Library. The library supported it, offering a small downstairs closet as the first Makerspace room. What began as a few robotics afternoons soon grew into a dedicated program focused on creativity, exploration, and accessibility for elementary-aged students. Ever since, the Makerspace has expanded into a nationally recognized program, dedicated to promoting creativity and collaboration. One of the defining features of the Makerspace is its philosophy. Instead of competition-focused STEM activities, the program emphasizes more activity-based projects and open-ended learning with no experience needed.

Today, the Makerspace operates as an official part of the Mountain Lakes Public Library. Its funding is supplemented by the Mountain Lakes Educational Foundation. A significant grant from the University of Colorado, awarded through the National Science Foundation, has supported the development of accessible products for people who are blind or have low vision. Around 50% of the Makerspace budget is dedicated to 3D design, one of the most versatile and accessible tools for creating adaptive and educational projects.

The Makerspace is known for its long-term, purposeful iniatives, many of which address accessibility challenges or community needs. Mr. Matty rarely singles out a favorite. Instead, he focuses on the constant stream of new ideas students bring. These ideas turn into projects that often evolve over multiple years as new students add their own improvements.

Standout Projects

Crayon Caps – Originally created by student Andreana Lee and later refined by classmates Meaghan Donnelly and Richard He, these caps are made to assist the visually impaired in identifying crayon colors.

3D-Click – A universally designed tactile abacus featuring a rod-and-bead system that clicks into place to provide haptic and auditory feedback, which was developed in collaboration with Chi-Hoon Kim and the Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired.

AltText Project – A team of local students worked with cartoonists Mika Song and Jen de Oliveira to create accessible alt text (a text description that can be read by a screen reader) for weekly webcomics; students produced around ten issues of their own.

However, not all projects are technology-based. One high school student, Conrad, created “Conrad’s Garden,” a long-term botany initiative that demonstrates the program’s openness to all areas of interest.
As the Makerspace continues to expand, its programs evolve along with the students who shape them. Whether developing new adaptive tools, experimenting with emerging technology, or designing entirely new types of projects, the Makerspace thrives on the steady flow of fresh ideas from students and the community.

About Post Author

Janvi Singh '27

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Most of us know that our high school has a band, but did you know it’s a lot more complicated than that? Between zero period musical groups and extracurricular ones, the mountain lakes instrumental groups include concert band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz band (which is split off into two different levels), pep band, pit orchestra, bell choir, and, during the holiday season, holiday brass.

In-School Bands

Anyone who joins band at Mountain Lakes starts out in concert band freshman year, which meets during the school day. From there, one is either placed in symphonic band or wind ensemble, both of which are composed of a variety of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In terms of string instruments, those who join the orchestra meet during zero period starting freshman year, with the orchestra being made up of one singular group.

After School Bands

Pep, pit orchestra, and bell choir are all available for musicians to partake in after school. While pep band—which anyone who has been to a herd game has heard—is a graded requirement for band members, pit orchestra and bell choir are separate activities. Pit orchestra is back and better than ever with the musicians preparing to show off the music they’ve been working on for months in the high school’s upcoming production of Frozen.

Specific Instrument Group Bands

The two jazz band levels and holiday brass groups are unique in that they are limited to specific instrument groups—for instance, a flute can’t join a jazz band since it’s not considered a jazz instrument, and only brass players can join holiday brass. Holiday brass gets to show off at winter concerts and various other winter-holiday events. Lastly, both jazz bands (blue notes, which is less exclusive, and backbeat, which requires an audition) allow students to explore a unique style of music that isn’t always covered in larger ensembles.

Here’s the bottom line: our school has a lot of talented musicians. Beyond these various bands, there are also numerous vocalist-focused groups and extracurricular activities. Don’t forget to support the arts and come see your friends perform if you ever get the chance—for instance, Mountain Lakes will be putting on the musical Frozen on March 5-7. Come check it out!

About Post Author

Cate Conklin '26

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

1 100 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Let’s cut to the chase – Mountain lakes and its neighboring towns are full of hot chocolate, so we decided to rate some local favorites so you can decide where to go to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Our First Sip: Hapgoods

It’s a classic you all know and love, the one and only Hapgoods. They were strong from the get-go, with Christmas Music, colorful lights, and a fire ablaze to welcome you. We were seated right away and ordered one traditional hot cocoa and one peppermint hot cocoa, plus a biscotti for dipping. The traditional hot cocoa embodied everything Hapgoods stands for: comfort, sweetness, and a rich flavor. (Side note: the whipped cream is truly sensational; don’t be afraid to ask for extra) The showstopper of the evening, however, was the peppermint hot cocoa. The holiday flavor, paired with an already superb base of dark chocolate, was a match made in heaven. Paired with their biscotti, you truly can’t go wrong. Although this was a very high-scoring establishment, we did, of course, have a few critiques. A major one that stood out was the temperature: it just wasn’t hot enough for Sam’s taste. Cate and Charlotte didn’t mind that aspect too much, but they did note the flavor of the traditional was a bit underwhelming compared to that of the peppermint. With its Mountain Lakes charm and truly delicious cocoa, Hapgoods is definitely a spot to check out.

Around the Block to the Corner Creamery

If you are looking for an adorable ice cream store with small-town vibes and colorful decor, Corner Creamery is the perfect place for you! However, we don’t recommend coming here if you’re searching for hot chocolate. While we commend the low price, stick to their ice cream; the hot chocolate was far from hot, had no chocolate flavor, and didn’t quite have any redeeming qualities to offer. At the end of the day, we love all of our small businesses, and we respect the attempt, but until they figure out their hot chocolate, go here for the ice cream instead!

Across Town to Boonton Coffee

After the setback at the Corner Creamery, I had to say the bar was set pretty low. However, our next stop was Boonton Coffee, which proved to be the polar opposite of the previous. Not only was the hot chocolate comforting, but the atmosphere definitely gets points for being aesthetically pleasing. The first sip of the seasonal peppermint hot chocolate immediately gave me feelings of rich and handmade hot chocolate. If I were to describe it in one word, it would be balanced: it wasn’t too thick that you felt like you could only drink a small cup of it, but it was thick and dark-chocolately at the same time.

Even if you aren’t a big sweet tooth, this cup of hot chocolate goes really well with the Cinnamon Chip Scone. I appreciate how they warm it up for you and put it on a cute plate, along with the hot chocolate mug; combined with the homey atmosphere, you really cannot go wrong with Boonton Coffee. Something to note for topping lovers: it doesn’t come with whipped cream. Although, we all thought that it was unnecessary due to the creamy consistency and semi-light flavor. In all, we would rate this location a 11/10, simply because they took the hot chocolate and scenery to a whole other level; we will be coming back here!!

Our Final Sip of the Day: Java Smugglers

We wrapped our night up with Java Smugglers, which offered a fresh perspective on hot chocolate that we had a hard time rating but ultimately felt very fond of. Immediately when walking in, the vibes are incredible; the decor is unique, there are some adorable products for sale that would make incredible gifts, such as candles and tea cups, and it feels very rustic and curated. We ordered their plain hot chocolate, and compared to the other ones of the night, it was less rich and had more of a spiced marshmallow-y flavor, with the chocolate being less prominent. With that said, the flavor was incredible, and it was nice to try something with a less traditional hot chocolate flavor, especially being on our fourth hot chocolate of the night.

On top of that, the whipped cream was incredible, the sizing was very reasonable (we got a small, which was more than enough for three people), and the temperature was pleasant. Some notes we want to make in case you’re considering going is that it would be considered on the thinner side as far as hot chocolates go, which Cate and Sam appreciated, but if you’re like Charlotte and you prefer a more viscous drink, we would recommend looking elsewhere. All in all, Java Smugglers has an incredible ambience, an interesting menu that draws people in for its bourbon coffee, and a great spin on hot chocolate, so go support a small business and check it out. 

Ending on a Sweet Note

No matter where you choose to get your hot chocolate from, we hope our reviews helped! From all three of us, we wish you a happy holiday season and happy hot chocolate drinking!

About Post Author

Cate Conklin '26, Sam Hirschfeld '28, Charlotte Caggiano '27

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Did you think this article was about recipes or decorations? Well, you thought wrong. Get ready to read Charlotte and Sam’s dream Thanksgiving table. Whether you’re into sports, pop culture, history, or philosophy, you’ll be sure to converse with someone of interest at this table.

1. The Rock

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is perhaps the epitome of American Pop Culture. Both an actor and a wrestler, the conversation will never lull in his presence. Since we know he’ll make a full plate, we don’t have to worry about too many leftovers. Also, if we have a stuck jar, we know who to call on. Starring in Moana and Jumanji, his wide range of experiences will bring an air of expertise and strength to the table. Worried we won’t have enough sides? Don’t worry, he texted that he’s bringing his favorite one: homemade cornbread with honey.

2. Abby Lee Miller

Quite a controversial figure, Abby Lee Miller will be sure to bring her opinionated attitude to the table. Whether you know her from Dance Moms or through her self-owned dance company, “The Abby Lee Dance Company,” you must be familiar with her fierce, yet loving attitude. Also, the food at this dinner must be top-tier if Abby Lee Miller is attending. If you get lucky, she may even bring some of her mom’s homemade noodle casserole!

3. Barack Obama

In the midst of the chaos, Barack Obama is here to the rescue. The perfect buffer for our table, he brings both the political and historical features. Although, it would be a miracle if we even got him at our table, considering how family-oriented he is. His community-oriented values and hopeful attitude make it easy to be thankful. Oh, and also, according to ABC News, his favorite Thanksgiving food is pumpkin pie, so be sure to save him a slice.

4. Alexander Hamilton

1776, New York City. Actually, it’s 2025, at Sam and Charlotte’s Thanksgiving Table. But Hamilton will be there nonetheless, because what is Thanksgiving without a founding father? A musical written about him, and drafting the Constitution, what hasn’t Hamilton done? Known for writing 51 essays out of spite, his sass will be sure to spark historical debates at our table. Also, we can count on his colonial outfit to turn the table into a fashion show. He won’t be young, scrappy, or hungry anymore, especially once we cook his favorite dish, cauliflower florets as featured in the Hamilton Cookbook.

5. Charli D’Amelio

I know what you must be thinking, why on Earth would we want 2020 TikTok-famous Charli D’Amelio at our Thanksgiving table. Honestly, she just adds some diversity; she is by far the youngest and probably the least serious. If we get lucky, maybe we could even be streamed on the D’Amelio Show on Hulu on a special Thanksgiving episode. I am sure she would have something to add to the conversation, especially because she used to get trained by Abby Lee Miller! There is some talk about them having a strictly professional relationship, but who knows, maybe they will bond over their traumatic dance experiences and leave dinner with a new friend.

6. Simone Biles

We all know If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, but what about If You Give Simone a Gold Medal? Specifically, 11 gold medals. With her Olympic-level discipline, we know at least she will arrive on time. Honestly, probably 5 minutes early with time to stretch. We’ll make sure to keep the hallway clear, just in case she needs space to do a mid-dinner routine. When she brings her favorite food, potatoes, I just know we’ll rate it a 10.

7. Gordon Ramsay

World-famous chef, mostly known for his screen time on Hell’s Kitchen, will definitely bring more controversy to the table. As if we didn’t have enough already. His tough criticism and unfiltered personality will make sure to make a comment on the food, whether good or bad. Watch out, though, if you take your eyes off him, he may just take over the kitchen. I don’t know about you, but I’m not getting in his way.

8. Aristotle

Mathematics, philosophy, linguistics, oh my. While he may not have experienced Thanksgiving in his own time, that certainly doesn’t mean he’s excluded from ours. With his analytical outlook, we know our seating chart will perfectly balance everyone’s virtues and alignments. No spiritual clashes here. Also, his commitment to eudaimonia (a state of flourishing or well-being) will curb the petty drama brought on by some other, cough cough, Abby Lee Miller guests. While we don’t know his favorite food, his diet likely would’ve been Mediterranean, so a dish such as Branzino with olives would definitely suffice.

9. Britney Spears

Oops, I did it again. I…invited Britney to Thanksgiving?! With her world-class vocal talent, we won’t have to worry about curating a playlist for this special holiday; Britney will have the music covered. We’ll definitely make extra mashed potatoes, in case she says “Gimme Gimme more”. Being an unprepared host is not an option. With so much talent at our table, we knew we needed Britney to bring another side of fame to our dinner, the vocal kind. While we don’t know for certain what Spears’ favorite Thanksgiving meal is, we do know she’s very fond of turkey, so we’ll be sure to perfect our recipe just for her.

10. LeBron James

To be honest, not much thought went into this one. And with full transparency, he will probably eat most of the food anyway. However, he is known to be pretty funny and quite athletic. He joined the NBA straight out of high school when he was 18. I wonder if he and Simone, two very disciplined and accomplished athletes, would hit it off. I guess we will never know.

About Post Author

Sam Hirschfeld '28 and Charlotte Caggiano '27

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

When walking down Midvale Road, in the Mountain Lakes lively yet small downtown area, you might have noticed a new store: The Corner Creamery. This store has now become a delicious reason for why many people come to the area. It’s making quite a splash!

What’s on the Menu?

The menu offers a variety of different flavors of icecream, sundaes, shakes, floats and more. Every flavor is carefully curated and offers a taste of gourmet ice cream. Some special flavors of ice cream include Apple Cinnamon Crunch, Mississippi Mud, Country Pumpkin, and Jeremy’s Triple Threat. But, of course, The Corner Creamery also offers staples like Vanilla Fudge, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Birthday Cake. With a variety of toppings and different cone sizes, each order can be easily customized! 

There are a litany of sundaes as well with Strawberry Shortcake, Brookie (including cookie dough and fudge), and Peanut Butter Mudslide being offered. Don’t forget about the shakes and floats too! If you are looking for an early morning kick, a cold brew shake may be the best choice for you. 

More Than Just Ice Cream

The Corner Creamery isn’t just about serving scoops. The owners have included touches that make it feel like it has been with the community for years.

It includes a nice outdoor area overlooking Mountain Lakes, offering a cozy vibe. They host Thanksgiving events and are extremely welcoming to the younger community. The social media page is lively and includes a lot of helpful updates and information about the place. Look out for giveaways as well!

The community reception to the stores has been only positive. So many people have enjoyed stopping by a local store instead of going further away to places like Denville Dairy or other shops. Since the store also offers job opportunities, many people have taken advantage of that aspect of the business as well.

The Creamery is an example of a store that reinforces what makes Mountain Lakes special. It offers community, friendliness, and respect for the town. It’s not just an ice cream store. It’s a gathering spot and a memory-maker. 

About Post Author

Ethan Wu '27

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

As every student knows, MLHS is home to their classmates from both Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township alike. Ever since freshman year, students living in both towns have attended class, participated in clubs and sports, and engaged with the community together. But what may be less well-known among the student body is the work that happens behind-the-scenes to make this arrangement possible. In fact, at the start of last year, this longtime arrangement was at risk of collapsing as negotiations between the Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township Boards of Education broke down.

While the issue has since been mainly resolved, this article will outline the background behind the dispute, what’s known about the final agreement, and implications for the two school districts.

Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township’s Send-Receive Agreement

The relationship between the two towns is long-lasting and significant. For more than thirty years, students from Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township have attended MLHS together. With both being relatively small towns, Boonton Township students make up approximately one-third of MLHS enrollment.

In Morris County, this type of situation isn’t uncommon. Several other municipalities also send students to other high schools, or have regional school districts that combine students from a number of different towns. These arrangements are called send-receive agreements, which, in basic terms, occur when a “sending” school district pays another “receiving” school district to educate its students. The agreement comes in the form of a legally binding contract between the two that details the amount of tuition the “sending” district must pay, when this payment occurs, and other responsibilities for the districts such as specific programs. In the case of MLHS, Boonton Township is the “sending” district, and Mountain Lakes the “receiving.”

The last send-receive agreement between the two districts lasted for ten years, and ended with the 2022-23 school year. But when Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township moved to renegotiate and continue this arrangement, significant areas of disagreement arose.

In December 2023, the Boonton Township Board of Education released a letter to the community detailing their grievances with the negotiation process, claiming that Mountain Lakes had proposed a 7.25% tuition increase for Boonton Township students attending MLHS—an increase that they described as “unsustainable.” Additionally, because New Jersey restricts annual property tax increases to 2%, the letter concluded that the increase “far exceed[ed] the amount of money that the Boonton Twp. BOE can legally raise from its taxpayers” and that “Boonton Twp. BOE and its taxpayers will never be able to afford these proposed tuition increases and have no statutory mechanism to do so.” Boonton Township also detailed their counter-proposal to raise tuition by 3% for the 2023-24 school year. Mountain Lakes, they alleged, rejected this proposal and initiated litigation against the board in November.

Following this letter, the Mountain Lakes BOE addressed some of these issues in a January 2024 school board meeting. According to Mountain Lakes, the previous send-receive agreement—which consisted of a flat 2% increase in tuition each year—was not enough to cover the actual cost of educating Boonton Township students, which had increased at a rate higher than 2% annually. The result was a reported $1.9 million shortfall in revenue; essentially, the total payments made by Boonton Township throughout the previous agreement was $1.9 million lower than what it actually cost to “receive” their students. Their tuition increase, therefore, was part of an effort to make up for those costs. Mountain Lakes also denied the claims that Boonton Township had proposed a 3% tuition increase and that they had initiated litigation. The two Boards of Education had scheduled to meet on January 11th, 2024, to continue negotiations.

A little more than a month afterwards, however, talks broke down as the two reached another disagreement. In February 2024, both released statements informing the local community on the status of negotiations. The Mountain Lakes BOE’s read, “In a surprising and most disappointing turn of events, Boonton Township rejected the Board’s counteroffer, withdrew its offer, and abruptly ended the negotiations.” Mountain Lakes alleged that despite agreeing to Boonton Township’s proposed annual 3% tuition increases, Boonton Township had requested that “Mountain Lakes forego all annual adjustments to which it may be entitled,” a change that they were not willing to agree to. These adjustments are essentially part of what is called a “cost per pupil” tuition approach, which Mountain Lakes maintained would allow the district to adjust and/or increase tuition rates if costs were higher than expected—adjustments key to avoiding a situation like the $1.9 million shortfall accumulated during the last agreement.

Boonton Township’s statement, on the other hand, rejected Mountain Lakes’ proposed cost per pupil approach in favor of a fixed annual increase in tuition. They reported that they had offered another ten year agreement, allowing for an annual tuition increase of 3%, which Mountain Lakes accepted but insisted on being able to make adjustments based on cost per pupil—an approach that could mean “an up to $1,000 per student limitation beyond the 3% increase for that year.” Ultimately, Boonton Township quantified, “In Year 1, that could represent a final tuition amount that represents an 8.5% increase over the prior year,” an increase that was unrealistic given the 2% state cap on annual property tax raises. In contrast, Boonton Township’s 3% proposal would “allow for high school fixed and variable costs to remain constant while providing a ceiling to Boonton Township taxpayers on high school costs that do not decrease when enrollment decreases.”

After months of further negotiations, the successor send-receive agreement was approved unanimously by the Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township boards of education in November 2024. Compared to the previous, the new agreement will last for five years instead of ten, and instead of 2% annual increases in tuition, it calls for approximately 3%.

From the Board

The following questions were sent to members of the two districts’ boards of education that oversaw the talks on the new send-receive agreement. Responses are currently pending.

1. At the start of 2024, the Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township Boards of Education each put out statements announcing difficulties in the negotiation of a new send-receive agreement. What did you view as the most significant area of disagreement from your end of the negotiations? How did your insight into your respective school district influence that view?
2. If a send-receive agreement had not been approved, what would have been the implications for those in your respective school district, as well as for Mountain Lakes/Boonton Township residents at-large?
3. It’s easy to get caught up in big global or national events, while losing sight of what happens in your backyard. These negotiations seem to be one of those cases. From your experience being on the board and working on this agreement, how significant of a role does local government play in one’s life, and how would you advise students to stay engaged in that?
4. By the end of 2024, the boards met to approve a new send-receive agreement. What elements of your respective school district’s plan were included, and in what areas were compromises necessary?
5. How did the final plan differ from previous send-receive contracts between Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township?
6. Were there any external factors, such as new legislation from the NJ state government, impacting the school districts that necessitated a different contract? Generally, from your experience on the board, how is your school district impacted by NJ state policy?

About Post Author

Grace Fu '26

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

1 50 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

1 50 %

Pieces of Us is a trilogy of poems written about human connection. Each poem explores a different type of relationship–one that fades, one that is never returned, and one that reminds us not to let moments slip away. 

Was it Really Forever?

“Was it Really Forever” is a poem expressing the struggle of growing apart from a childhood best friend. It talks about how people change as they grow older; even though, sometimes it is what needs to happen in order for people to grow and learn.

Elusive Love

“Elusive Love” is a poem that represents an yearning love for someone that does not reciprocate it. It hints upon factors of the world that play into this idea

The Stories We’ll Tell

Now is the time to enjoy moments with your friends. Go on the late night drives or to those football games. Time will fly by in an instant, and when we look back on these days, the memories of these moments will be the only thing that stays.

About Post Author

Lyla Wills '28

mliddle@mlschools.org

Happy

1 50 %

Sad

1 50 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %