South Hunterdon won’t ask state to review school bond issue

The school now knows what the state commissioner of education would look at in the event the next referendum fails.

By: Steve Bates
   WEST AMWELL — At least South Hunterdon Regional High School now knows what the state commissioner of education would look at in the event the next referendum fails, and the school board must turn to the state for assistance.
   Board of Education President Allie Meehan and Superintendent Cheryl Simone met with the state Economic Development Authority last week to see whether it would be fruitful to let it guide the scope of the next referendum, which might make the appeal process easier. The EDA analyzes appeals that are sent to the commissioner for consideration.
   However, the officials said they believe EDA involvement would be costly and would push back the referendum beyond the March target date. So the district decided at its meeting Oct. 18 to go it alone, while keeping in mind the authority found no "excessive costs" in the elements contained in question one of the failed September referendum.
   The district plans to return to voters March 12 with a scaled-back version of question one, which called for $11.1 million for construction of a 14,800-square-foot science and technology wing as well as repairs to its heating and ventilation system and a new roof.
   "I’d rather take my chances with the voters than the DOE and EDA at this point," Dr. Simone said.
   The absence of excessive costs is significant because this is the first thing the commissioner looks at when examining an appeal, according to Mr. Meehan.
   If the next referendum is rejected by voters, chances are good the school district can show the commissioner it tried to cut "excessive costs" out of the plan and win a favorable decision from the state.
   The dangers of working closely with EDA is the authority would need a special, and costly, set of schematics from architects that would allow its professionals to modify to conform to its stripped-down specifications.
   The superintendent gave the hypothetical example of a new cafeteria. If the district were to plan the facility, and those plans included special "breakfast nooks," for instance, those extras would probably be cut from the EDA version of the plans, she said.
   The EDA works in this matter because the state actually takes over the project upon appeal and becomes responsible for its implementation, while adhering to a state mandate of $138 per square foot. Mr. Meehan said the square footage figure was old and inadequate, that the state is aware of this, but this was the best the district could do unless the law changes.
   The special schematics probably would cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars, Mr. Meehan said. It’s possible the EDA could front the money for the schematics, but the district has no guarantees, he said.
   Also, he explained there were so many variables — like the upcoming gubernatorial election and the state budget crunch — that working with the EDA couldn’t guarantee a favorable review from the commissioner, and the strategy would add additional cost and delays to a plan the school board sees as necessary and immediate.
   Dr. Simone said as it stands, question one contains no excessive costs, and sticking to the elements contained within the proposal could increase the chances of a favorable review by the commissioner’s office.
   If parts of questions two or three are added, it could inject elements that the state might deem excessive costs, and threaten an appeal. Those two questions asked voters to approve building a new gymnasium and performing arts center.
   Mr. Meehan encouraged the board to follow the superintendent’s recommendation.