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Morris Hills High School, with its modern comprehensive curriculum, stands today as evidence of the foresight, planning, cooperation, hard work, and courage of many citizens and educators in the area who as far back as the late thirties saw the need for growth in terms of the school system. The increase in birthrate, the construction of new homes, the expansion of old industry and the addition of new, the demand for a wider variety of high school courses and subjects and the rise in educational costs in both receiving and sending districts were among the reasons why the Boards of Education were interested in studying the proposal for a regional high school that would best serve the needs of their high school youth. From the March 7, 1949 public discussion meeting on the organization of the regional district until October 29, 1949, when it was submitted to the voters, much work was done by educators and community leaders resulting in an affirmative vote of 2,675 to 318 for the formation of the districts. Since the first Board of Education was appointed by Mr. William H. Mason, Morris County superintendent of schools, to begin the solution of the problems of the district, many Board members have given their valuable time towards the welfare of Morris Hills. Some of the problems that had to be solved by the Board of Education were selections of a site, kind and size of building, curriculum, financing, transportation, equipment, staff, textbooks, and policy regulations. The first site was approved on June 16, 1950. Mr. Nathan Gifford, Superintendent of Morris Hills Regional High School, was selected July 1, 1950 to act as supervisor consultant and administrator for the Board of Education to assist with solving the many problems of the district. Ground breaking ceremonies were held on April 26, 1952 and the cornerstone ceremony was held on May 23, 1953. During the summer of 1953, Miss Dora A. Ames (Mrs. Dora A. Sharp), director of guidance, began working to assist the class and student counseling. On September 9, 1953, the Morris Hills Regional High School was opened for the entrance of its first classes. On October 23, 1953, dedication ceremonies were attended by a crowd of over 1,500 people. The six curricula offered during the first year included: college preparatory, art, business, vocational homemaking, vocational building trades, and auto mechanics. Since the opening day registration was sufficient to fill the new school to capacity, plans were started immediately for an addition. On July 20, 1955, the voters approved a bond issue of $1,839,000 for an addition to the school, which would house an additional thousand pupils. This addition provided further facilities for the college preparatory and vocational rooms. Added to the school’s curriculum were distributive education, practical nursing, beauty culture, and electronics. Courses of enrichment were also added to the college entrance, business and homemaking fields. Mr. Patrick Caruso was appointed superintendent of schools to succeed Mr. Nathan Gifford. Upon Mr. Caruso’s retirement on February 1, 1981, Mr. David A. MacNicoll assumed the position of chief school administrator. Mr. MacNicoll ended his career on July 1, 1988 with Dr. James J. McNasby following him to the position of chief school administrator until August 2001, when the present chief school administrator, Dr. Ernest Palestis, assumed the position. On December 1, 2, and 3, 1959, the first Evaluation Committee from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, evaluated Morris Hills Regional High School and accredited the school with an excellent rating. Many favorable comments were made on its breadth of curriculum and the comprehensive nature of its offerings for both the college and non-college students. On February 16, 17, and 18, 1970 we underwent our second evaluation of the school with very favorable results. November 14, 15, and 16, 1980 marked the third Middle States Evaluation of Morris Hills with extremely favorable results. The fourth review by the Middle States Association was conducted November 29, 30, and December 1, 1989 with our school receiving superb commendations. In 1998, the Morris County School of Technology announced a plan to establish a series of academies throughout the county which would be subject specific. Our superintendent, Dr. McNasby, realized this was the future course of education. His vision brought the Academy for Mathematics, Science and Engineering to the Morris Hills campus. The academy is a highly focused, four-year, full-time program that begins in ninth grade at Morris Hills High School. The program is for students attending a high school in Morris County, who are highly qualified and are looking to enter careers in the areas of engineering, mathematics and science. After two years of intensive planning, the refurbishing of our former vocational building, and the development of various curricula, the academy opened its doors to 24 students on September 5, 2000. The present administration of Morris Hills High School includes Mr. Joseph Cacciaguida as principal, Mr. Bob Merle (discipline), Mrs. Marie Giantomasi (attendance), Mr. Scott Cascone (student services/discipline), as assistant principals, and Mr. John DuBois as supervisor of athletics. Morris Hills now sponsors 22 varsity sports. In 1958, the Jersey Hills Conference was formed and Morris Hills became a charter member of that conference. In 1977, the Jersey Hills Conference merged with the Iron Area Conference, to form the Iron Hills Conference. The school has become nationally recognized
in various activities including staff development, business,
forensics, athletics, music and academics. Graduates from
Morris Hills have attended various schools and colleges and
they have distinguished themselves in the service of our country.
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