New referendum looks to find class space for a school population that officials say could reach 600 in the next few years.
By: Scott Morgan
CHESTERFIELD A year and a half ago, the school board offered residents a $14 million referendum package based on the principle that the population of Chesterfield Elementary School was on the cusp of doubling.
There was a major public effort to get the word across; numerous public meetings for public input; rumors and truths whipped into a cocktail that, in the end, spelled doom for the school board’s offering. In December 2003 township voters handily turned down the referendum, 462 to 200.
Eighteen months later, the school population has grown by about 30 kids, to 292. In Old York Village, the township’s much-touted receiving area, where residential development will exclusively go, about 35 new houses have been built; 12 in the last week have become occupied; 804 houses (of an expected 1,192) have been approved for construction in Old York Village, and four times as many prospective parents call Chief School Administrator Edward Gibson these days to come in and check out the school.
For the school board, the message is clear, and it’s the same message as it was 18 months ago new people are coming to Chesterfield and there are fewer and fewer places to put their school-age children.
On Monday, the school board held the first of what it expects to be many meetings on a new referendum issue. Targeted for December, the new referendum looks to one of three expansion options aimed at finding class space for a school population that school officials say could reach 600 in the next few years. The school board’s intent Monday was to gather public input about the options, which break down as follows:
Option 1, which is nearly identical to the 2003 referendum, calls for upgrades to the existing K-6 school and the construction of a second school inside Old York Village. Ultimately, the original school would accommodate K-1 students, while the new school would house grades 2-6. The school board estimates the cost to be $25.6 million, with approximately $3.6 million in state aid.
Option 2 calls for the sale of the existing elementary school and the construction of a new school on 9 acres of the 27-acre Wilkinson family farm in Old York Village. The costliest of the three options, Option 2 would run an estimated $31 million with $5 million in state aid expected.
Option 3, which is least favored by school officials, is a $25 million plan (with a $4 million state share) to expand the existing school outwardly. This plan failed to win official or public support because of its inherent need to encroach on much of the school’s open land and athletic fields and because it would require an entirely new sewerage system on the grounds.
While it was a small turnout Monday, residents who showed offered their opinions and bandied ideas with school officials for nearly two hours. Much of the dialogue centered around the failings of the 2003 plan, which most seemed to agree were largely due to rumors, misinformation and hearsay.
Residents, such as Dana Vetter and Rosemary McCormack, both of Rosewood Drive, said the most important thing here and now is to get the full information about this year’s plans out to all residents as quickly, completely and simply as possible. Ms. Vetter urged "newer, stronger methods of communication" including a heavier online presence and a more aggressive outreach to residents without kids in the school.
Frank Hill, of Bordentown-Georgetown Road, reminded, "a lot of the ‘facts’ of the last referendum were rumors," and urged a more concentrated effort toward distilling truth this time around.
School board member Susan Gilmer-Layton agreed, saying residents need to bring in as many residents as they can to future meetings in order to get more dialogue going.
"Bring people to meetings," Ms. Gilmer-Layton said. "Bring a friend and help educate people."
Rex Vanveldhuisen, who is, as he was in 2003, a member of the Referendum Action Committee, said public outreach last time was full-throttle and will continue to be so this time around.
School board members, including president Craig Thier, said the mistakes of 2003 have been reassessed and that the board plans to get out more accurate and easy-to-understand information.
While Monday’s meeting was considered very preliminary, the main objective, Mr. Thier said, was to gauge public interest in the board’s three options. Residents who did express a preference sided entirely with Option 1. Ms. Vetter said she prefers the plan because it is the least expensive and because keeping the existing school building will preclude its sale to developers a distinct possibility under Option 2.
John McIntyre, a resident of Bordentown-Crosswicks Road, succinctly stated his position and earned several nods of agreement from other residents: "Pound for pound, Option 1 seems to be the best."
More meetings are expected throughout the year, though no dates have been set, said Mr. Thier. The board will now decide which option it wants to pursue, but though board members seem to be leaning toward Option 1, a final decision on the matter is not due for the next month or so, Mr. Thier said.