The $9.8 million bond, if approved, would go toward various repairs.
By: Lea Kahn
A proposed $9.8 million bond referendum to pay for new roofs, windows and floors in several schools will be put before township voters Tuesday.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bond referendum has been billed as a health and safety referendum by school district officials. There are no plans to build additional classrooms or other spaces.
The state has agreed to pick up 40 percent of the tab, or $3.9 million of the $9.8 million bond. The cost to the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $164,000 would be $44.28 per year, or $3.69 per month, school district officials said.
The current school district tax rate is $2.05 per $100 of assessed valuation. Of that amount, 9 cents goes toward paying off the school district’s $31.5 million in existing debt, or $147.50 for the average house. If the bond referendum is approved, it would add 3 cents to the school tax rate to cover debt service.
The money would be used to pay for new windows at Lawrence High School, Lawrence Intermediate School and Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. Floor tiles containing asbestos in all of the district’s seven schools need to be replaced to comply with modern safety standards. School district officials want to remove all of the tiles and replace them with new vinyl composition tiles, at a cost of about $1.9 million. The asbestos floor tiles do not represent a health hazard, officials said.
At LHS, the plan is to replace portions of the roof that leak, at an estimated cost of $2.6 million.
Windows at the high school also would be replaced, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. The windows are nonenergy efficient single-pane windows that do not open fully, causing a lack of ventilation, officials said.
New roofs also are needed at the Eldridge Park, Lawrenceville and Slackwood elementary schools. The estimated cost of new roofs at the three schools is $654,888 for Eldridge Park, $765,363 for Lawrenceville and $535,423 for Slackwood.
Voters who live in general election districts 1, 4, 7, 15 and 20 will vote at the Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Company at 65 Phillips Ave.
Voters who live in general election districts 2, 5, 9 and 10 will vote at the Slackwood Elementary School at 2060 Princeton Pike.
Voters who live in general election districts 3 and 6 will vote at the Eldridge Park Elementary School at 55 Lawn Park Ave.
Voters who live in general election districts 8, 12 and 16 will cast their ballots at Lawrence High School at 2525 Princeton Pike.
Voters who live in general election districts 11 and 14 will vote at the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School at 2939 Princeton Pike.
Voters who live in general election districts 13, 17, 18, 19 and 21 will vote at the Lawrenceville Elementary School at 40 Craven Lane.

