State aid will cover as much as 40 percent
of the costs, if voters approve referendum
By:Regina Tan
Voters may see the $2 million school improvement referendum for building upgrades in Manville schools early next year, according to Superintendent Francis X. Heelan.
On Tuesday night, the Board of Education passed a motion to accept the state Department of Education’s approval of the district’s Long Range Facility Plan, which outlines the costs of facility repairs for the district’s schools.
That allows the district to move forward on plans for the referendum, and Dr. Heelan said the repair project will not be posed to voters until January or March of next year.
Accepting the state’s approval makes the district eligible for state funding under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act. The state requires that each school district submit a five-year plan detailing what the state funds will be used for in order to receive the funding.
Richard Reilly, board secretary and business administrator, said the Manville school district had requested between $1.5 million and $2.2 million for roof, window and lighting repairs.
If approved by voters, the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act will cover 40 percent of the costs and the Board of Education will provide 60 percent of cost of the $2 million project, according to Mr. Reilly.
The greatest expense will be the cost of replacing the windows in the schools, which include the Weston School, Roosevelt School, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School and Manville High School.
Other repairs include: repairing the roof and boiler stack at the Weston School; repairing the interior lights and making ventilation and heating improvements at the Roosevelt School; repairing the doors at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School; and repairing the cooling system, flourescent light fixtures and lockers at the Manville High School.
The only item that was not approved by the Department of Education was the request to fund the repair of Manville High School’s gymnasium bleachers at a cost of about $360,000.