By KAYLA J. MARSH
Staff Writer
ABERDEEN — Voters in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District have passed two referendum questions that approve heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) projects for classrooms, instructional spaces, public spaces and offices throughout the district.
“The district is extremely happy about it passing,” Superintendent Joseph Majka said. “I think it speaks to the community and the board’s commitment to the future of our children and young adults, and I think it is a huge positive for the district.”
The referendum questions asked voters to approve the sale of bonds to finance the costs of the proposed improvements over approximately 25 years at 3.8 percent.
With both bond proposals approved, the total cost of the HVAC upgrades and improvements equals $19,856,000.
The special school election took place March 8 from 5-9 p.m.
With all 20 districts reporting for a 5.57 percent voter turnout, Question One passed by a vote of 570 to 389, approving $13.4 million worth of heating and cooling upgrades in every classroom across the district.
The breakdown of the projects for Question One is as follows: For Cambridge Park Elementary School, built in 1970, units would be upgraded at a cost of $852,000. Cliffwood Avenue Elementary School, built in 1958, would have its units replaced at a cost of $1,280,000. Lloyd Road Elementary School, built in 1967, would see units upgraded at a cost of $2,094,000. Ravine Drive Elementary School, built in 1966, would see units upgraded at $2,045,000. At Strathmore Elementary School, built in 1963, units would be replaced at a cost of $2,578,000. At Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School, built in 1970, units would be replaced at a cost of $2,640,000 and at Matawan Regional High School, units would be replaced at a cost of $1,911,000.
The passing of Question One will result in a zero tax increase as it replaces maturing debt expiring June 2016 and represents $54.44 per year for the average house in Matawan assessed at $297,797 and $50.87 per year for the average house in Aberdeen assessed at $266,928.
With all 20 districts reporting for a 5.57 percent voter turnout, Question Two passed by a vote of 529 to 427, approving $6.4 million worth in heating and cooling upgrades in student spaces such as auditoriums, kitchens and gymnasiums and even provides for improvements to some administrative spaces.
The breakdown of the projects for Question Two is as follows: For Cambridge Park Elementary School, units would be upgraded at a cost of $1,098,000. Cliffwood Avenue Elementary School would see units replaced at a cost of $275,000. Lloyd Road Elementary School would see units upgraded at a cost of $808,000. Ravine Drive Elementary School would see units upgraded at $514,000. At Strathmore Elementary School, units would be replaced at a cost of $418,000. At Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School, units would be replaced at a cost of $1,855,000 and at Matawan Regional High School, units would be replaced at a cost of $1,488,000.
The passing of Question Two represents an increase of $19.72 per year for the average house in Matawan assessed at $297,797 and $18.44 per year for the average house in Aberdeen assessed at $266,928.
The New Jersey Department of Education has approved the district for Debt Service Aid, which will cover 34 percent of the repayments over the life of the bond, according to officials.
The referendum funding will cover new unit ventilators/air handlers, exhaust, controls and electrical upgrades that will bring the district up to current state codes.
It will also add air conditioning to the instructional spaces that do not currently have it and replace ones that do.
“The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District would like to thank the community of Matawan and Aberdeen for their support and effort and for approving our referendum,” a statement on the district’s website states.
“Now that this has passed and we have a plan in progress, we hope to go forward getting things ready for possible work to begin next summer,” Majka said.