U.F. board celebrates
voter OK
Allentown, U.F. residents pass school referendum by more than 2-1 margin
By ruth calia stives
Staff Writer
Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education members began their Dec. 12 meeting with congratulations all around for the hard work and dedication that paid off in passage of the prior day’s $19.6 million construction referendum proposal.
The referendum passed by more than a 2-1 margin, with voters in Allentown and Upper Freehold supporting it by a combined vote of 560 to 246.
Thirty percent, or $5,865,317 of the proposal, will be funded through a state grant, leaving taxpayers in the two towns to pick up $13,703,683 of the cost.
The $19,569,000 will fund additions to Allentown High School and the annex building, plus a number of renovations at the high school.
In Upper Freehold, 589, or 19 percent, of the 3,046 registered voters went to the polls to overwhelmingly approve the referendum 419 to 170.
In Allentown, 217 or 17 percent of the 1,252 registered voters went to the polls and approved the referendum by a smaller margin of 141 to 76.
In Allentown, based on an average home value of $150,000, the 2003-4 tax impact would be $55 per $100,000 of valuation.
In Upper Freehold, based on an average home value of $210,000, the 2003-4 tax impact will be $66 per $100,000 of valuation.
Millstone, which is a sending district to the high school, will also face a tax increase as a result of the referendum passage. The tax impact, which will be collected via tuition payments, is estimated at $19 per $100,000 of assessed valuation in 2002-3, and $38 in 2003-4, after which it will start to decline.
At last week’s meeting, special thanks were extended to John Dawkins, the buildings and grounds chairman who was responsible for getting the project under way.
Board President Lynn Meara also thanked Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Connelly. "It isn’t by accident that this happened. Dr. Connelly did a great job of getting the information out to the public," she said.
Board member Jeanette Bressi also mentioned groups, such as "Yes for Success", for contributing to the successful passage of the referendum.
"We had the support and dedication of many people," Connelly said.
Ultimately, the superintendent said, the voters could understand the problems faced by the school district and the fact that the proposed project made sense.
Allentown High School Principal Chris Nagy thanked the board for its successful effort to provide "an opportunity to embark on a wonderful project."
While exact information about construction commencement is not yet known, the construction and renovations are slated to be completed before the start of the 2003-4 school year, and will, among other things, ease overcrowding with the addition of new classrooms, better gymnasium and cafeteria space, and much improved parking facilities.
Meara commented on the fact that the board will soon be faced with preparing a new budget for the next school year. "As we approach the new budget, we need to keep budget costs to a minimum. We have a responsibility to the community. I will not be able to go out to the community for large increases in light of their generosity" regarding passage of the referendum, she said.
In other business, the board received an update on the condition of Upper Freehold Elementary/Middle School Principal Ed Coldren, who recently underwent hip replacement surgery. He is recovering at home and looking forward to returning to his job within several weeks, according to board member Betty Jane Pepe.
Board member Shari Burke and Maybeth Conway, director of curriculum, explained the addition of journalism to the new course proposals as a way of introducing a new opportunity for students to explore an elective topic, regardless of their specific course of study or academic standing.
The criteria for admission to the course includes completion of an application, which will measure degree of interest in the topic, and teacher recommendation. The course is open to students in grades 10-12.