For most voters, referendum is a $26M mystery How much school construction will affect taxpayers is not known

For most voters, referendum is a $26M mystery
How much school construction will affect taxpayers
is not known


JEFF HUNTLEY Students at East Brunswick’s Churchill Junior High School start their 600-foot trek to class at the Roselle Smith annex. A school board referendum calls for the construction of an enclosed connector building between the two, which would house a new gymnasium, cafetorium, science labs and demonstration rooms. JEFF HUNTLEY Students at East Brunswick’s Churchill Junior High School start their 600-foot trek to class at the Roselle Smith annex. A school board referendum calls for the construction of an enclosed connector building between the two, which would house a new gymnasium, cafetorium, science labs and demonstration rooms.

By Nicole C. Vaccaro

Staff Writer

 

WWith only 34 days until the public votes on the proposed $26 million Churchill School construction referendum, East Brunswick’s Board of Education has yet to reveal just how much a "yes" vote would cost the average homeowner.


JEFF HUNTLEY Overcrowded conditions at East Brunswick’s Churchill School and the Smith annex have prompted the Board to Education to propose a building referendum for Oct. 17. Pictured are 30 students in a classroom at Churchill.  JEFF HUNTLEY Overcrowded conditions at East Brunswick’s Churchill School and the Smith annex have prompted the Board to Education to propose a building referendum for Oct. 17. Pictured are 30 students in a classroom at Churchill.

In fact, if asked, many residents would likely say they had no idea what the referendum was about or why it’s needed, much less how much it would cost them.

Even Township Council President Meryle Asaro admits to having very little knowledge of the proposal.

"I know about as much as any other resident and that isn’t very much at all," she said.

"The school board is its own governing entity and makes its own decisions, which I fully support. My only hope is that they will allow themselves enough time to educate the public on topics such as the proposed tax increase and need before it goes to vote," she said.

"When the municipality proposed its open space referendum a few years back, we were extremely clear about every step of the process and made it a priority to keep the public informed on everything," said Asaro.

"You cannot rush these things, and I hope this year’s [Board of Education and administrative staff] changes do not take away from the much-needed attention this matter deserves," she said.

School Business Administrator Bernardo Giuliana did not return calls regarding the projected tax increase, with or without state assistance.

The only information that has been released is the referendum itself, which proposes renovations in excess of $26 million.

Officials recently declared that they are seeking state aid for a portion of the funding via the New School Construction bill. If successful, the district could receive compensation for approximately 40 percent of the construction costs. As of press time, there was no word from the state on whether East Brunswick would receive any of that money.

"We have not received an answer from the state yet, and so it would be difficult to determine just how much the project would affect taxes," said Jennifer Forbes, director of community relations for the school district.

Prior to Churchill’s back to school night meeting last night, the first public information session regarding the referendum for the Churchill School construction took place.

This marked the first in a series of discussions on the matter, all of which are scheduled to occur one half hour before each school’s back to school night forum.

The only formal mention of construction plans prior to this event was when the referendum was passed during a June Board of Education meeting.

One school administrator and one board member will be on hand for all back to school night sessions and pamphlets will be available to anyone who is not able to attend the sessions.

A public hearing open to all members of the community is scheduled to take place Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Churchill cafeteria, just seven days before the referendum goes for a vote.

Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 17. The deadline for registering to vote in this special election is [this Monday] Sept. 18. All registrations must be completed by 9 p.m.

"Schools are the town’s greatest asset and I’ve always supported the need for maintaining the highest quality education for our children," said Mayor Bill Neary. "One of my primary concerns is, and always will be, taxpayer dollars. Therefore, knowing exactly how much this will cost them is a crucial part of the education process."

"From there, it’s their (the voters’) choice to vote either for or against the referendum."

During recent Board of Education meetings, the school board has mentioned the Churchill referendum only briefly. Schematics for the building’s improved layout are already being considered for incorporation into the district’s crisis management plan.

Compared to state standards, the Churchill and Smith schools’ facilities are not up to par for accommodating the current student population of 1,353. Without expansion, the facilities are considered grossly unequipped to support the anticipated enrollment of over 1,600 students by 2002.

The state model for Churchill’s existing enrollment numbers requires that a school have at least 68 classrooms and two gymnasiums. The Churchill/Smith facility currently has 65 classrooms and one gymnasium.

The state also requires 12,000 square feet of cafeteria space, a 15,112-square-foot media center, and at least a 9,450-square-foot auditorium. Together, Churchill and Smith’s cafeteria space is only 7,511 sq. ft. and its media center only 4,310 sq. ft. There is no auditorium to speak of.

With the projected enrollment of 1,600 students, the state model increases its minimum criteria to 79 classrooms and the cafeteria, media center and auditorium requirements increase additional 2,000 square feet each.

If the public approves the referendum in October, the plans call for the construction of a connector building between Churchill and Smith schools. This new connector building would house a gymnasium and a combination cafeteria/auditorium (cafetorium), complete with a stage.

This will free up existing rooms to be transformed into such things as a band room, and guidance and administrative offices.

Several new general use and science classrooms/labs will also be built, which will cut down on class size.

The current average class is usually between 30 and 35 students, a number well above the desired standard of 20 to 25.

Renovations will take place in the existing buildings as well, including a rewiring of the entire electrical system — which is over 40-years-old — to allow for computer stations in various specialized classrooms.

There will also be improvements made to the main parking lot, the athletic fields and parking, the home economic rooms to better accommodate handicapped students and the school’s eight lavatories.

Churchill Junior High School first opened in 1962 to accommodate students in grades six through eight. In 1967, the school began to include grade nine.

Due to increasing enrollment, sixth-graders were moved into Hammarskjold in 1986, a middle school for grades six and seven. Churchill remained a junior high school for grades eight and nine and Smith School was transformed into a facilities annex to accommodate Churchill’s growth. This was supposed to be a temporary solution, however, there have been no additions of any kind built since 1968.

"Building a new facility rather than adding onto the existing one does not appear to be feasible," said Forbes. "I do believe the board looked into it; however, they found the costs to be high and the availability low for new land. But nothing is set in stone and that is why we are opening the issue up for public discussion."

The Oct. 10 information session at Churchill School is open to all residents and will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.