Proposal to upgrade and expand five elementary schools and the two middle schools would raise school taxes 2.43 percent.
By: Rebecca Tokarz
Voters will have their say Tuesday on the school district’s proposed $46.42 million plan to upgrade and expand five elementary schools and the two middle schools.
The plan which includes additions and renovations to Brunswick Acres, Cambridge, Constable, Greenbrook and Monmouth Junction schools would increase school taxes 2.43 percent. The plan also includes additional classroom space at the district’s two middle schools and the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems at each school would be upgraded with the plans.
According to Assistant Superintendent for Business Jeff Scott, the district’s proposal carries a tax rate increase of 4.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $186,900 would pay $89.71 more a year for 25 years to cover the cost of the proposed plan.
The current school tax rate is $1.971 per $100 of assessed valuation with the owner of a home assessed at the township average paying $3,683 in school taxes.
Voters will be asked to approve $33.12 million in bonds. The state has promised $13.3 million in aid toward the project.
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A three-member finance committee estimated the township would experience a 1.5 percent growth in its ratable base through 2008 and a 1 percent increase for the next 20 years. Ratables, or the total amount of assessed valuation in the township, are used to determine property tax rates. If the tax base grows more quickly, the committee said, the tax impact could be less.
The committee also assumed an interest rate on bonds of 4.38 percent. It recommended that the board include a 10-year par call feature that would allow the board to refinance the bonds if interest rates fall in that time period and the board can show at least a 3 percent savings over the life of the bonds. The board refinanced its 1999 bonds in 2001, saving the district about $1.3 million over the last three school budget years.
District officials said the changes to the district’s five elementary and two middle schools would help the district cope with an anticipated 650-seat deficit by the 2006-2007 school year at the K-5 level, in addition to bringing parity to some of the older schools in the district.
Under the proposed plans, the following changes would be made to each school:
Brunswick Acres school would get an addition that would include eight classrooms and a permanent built-in stage. Renovations would be made to 13 classrooms, three classrooms used for autistic student instruction, three small group instructional rooms, two basic skills classrooms, the library, cafeteria and storage areas. The open space classroom areas would become classrooms with floor-to-ceiling walls. In addition, the HVAC system would be replaced.
A detached classroom annex would be demolished at Cambridge and, in its place, an addition would be erected that would include six classrooms and two kindergarten rooms. The addition also would include a small group instruction room, music and art rooms, a permanent built-in stage, restrooms and new storage facilities. Alterations to the existing cafeteria and kitchen areas and HVAC replacements also are planned.
Constable school would get six new classrooms, a small group instruction room, music and art rooms and a new gymnasium with a permanent built-in stage as part of an addition to the building. Also included in the addition is an assistant principal’s office, cafeteria and kitchen areas, storage and restrooms. Renovations to the building would alter six classrooms, a small group instruction room, the existing cafeteria and kitchen spaces, the nurse’s office, principal’s office, main office, faculty room, library and storage areas. The school also would get a new kitchen that would be used to cook, rather than just reheat, food for the lunch programs.
Plans for Greenbrook school include an addition with eight classrooms, music and art rooms, a new gymnasium with a permanent built-in stage, new cafeteria and kitchen facilities, restrooms, storage room and nurse’s office. Renovations to the building include plans to alter three classrooms, four small group instruction rooms, a kindergarten classroom, faculty room, main office, principal’s and counseling offices. As part of the plans, the open space area in the middle of the school, called "the pit" would become the library and would have permanent walls surrounding the room. The kitchen area of the school would be used to prepare student lunches at the facility.
Monmouth Junction school would get a new cafeteria, kitchen area, music and art rooms, storage space and restrooms with an addition. Renovations to the building include plans to change five classrooms, two kindergarten classrooms, four small group instruction spaces, the library, faculty room, storage space and HVAC replacement. The main office, principal and assistant principal offices would be altered as part of the plans. The open space classroom areas in the school would receive floor-to-ceiling walls and a new kitchen would be used to prepare lunches in-house.
Crossroads North Middle School would get four additional classrooms by renovating the high school’s auto shop, which is run out of the school. The HVAC system also would be upgraded.
A 10,000-square-foot teacher training facility would be added to Crossroads South Middle School on Major Road. The district could convert the training room into six additional classes if needed at a later date. The HVAC system in the gymnasium also would be upgraded.