South River board seeks new school

Referendum next year will ask voters
for primary school

By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

Referendum next year will ask voters
for primary school
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

As students hit the books for a new school year, the South River Board of Education is busy preparing for the possible construction of a new primary school and an accompanying grade reconfiguration.

According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Ambrogi, the proposed school, which would be built on the site of the former William Campbell School at Johnson Place and David Street, would house students in kindergarten through second grade. This would open up more space in the elementary school for grades three, four and five, Ambrogi said.

The middle school would then become what Ambrogi described as a more "traditional" middle school with sixth, seventh and eighth grades. At present, the middle school houses the fifth grade, as well as grades six, seven and eight.

The high school would remain the same, with grades nine through 12.

"We’re bursting at the seams," Ambrogi said about the current conditions at the elementary school, which presently holds students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Since the new elementary school was built in 1997, there has been a 50-percent increase in enrollment districtwide, the superintendent said. There are presently 2,183 students in the district’s three schools.

According to Ambrogi, having a new school campus has helped to attract developers to build subdivisions at the southern end of town. More young families with children have relocated to the borough, bringing an influx of students into the district, he said.

Residents will get a chance to vote on the proposed improvements in a referendum, which Ambrogi said may be held in March.

Members of the school board, at an Aug. 20 board meeting, unanimously approved using the architectural services of Tomaino, Tomaino, Iamello & Associates of Deal, Monmouth County, to design the primary school. The architects are already working on the designs for the school, which will have similar facilities to those in the existing elementary school, Ambrogi said.

The cost of the architect’s pre-referendum services will be $20,000, the superintendent said.

"The board was able to negotiate a very favorable cost with Tomaino," he said.

Ambrogi said it is too soon to estimate the total cost of the proposed primary school, or to suggest when the school might open, if approved by voters.

"We’re confident that the residents of South River understand the importance of a quality educational program," Ambrogi said.

Board of Education President Regis Wyluda said that in the future the district would have a series of hearings to show the public the plans for the proposed school.

Wyluda said he has high hopes that borough residents will approve a referendum.