BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer
HAZLET — The Board of Education may sell a 1.4-acre parcel of land to generate revenue for capital improvements within the school district, such as renovations for the athletic facilities at Raritan High School.
"There’s really not much we can do with this land. It’s not like we can build a school on it because it is such a small piece," Hazlet Township Schools Superintendent Renae LaPrete said.
The minimum bid on the property, located on the side of the district administration building, will be $125,000.
"We have already had some inquiries about the property and so I am fairly confident that we will be able to sell it," LaPrete said. "We are constantly finding ways to consolidate and get revenue for our district, and I believe this could be one of the ways that we can do it. We’re certainly trying our hardest."
The district is also contemplating applying for a grant from the Nike Bowerman Track Renovation Program, which contributes a matching grant of $50,000 to a school that is in need of a running track for its students.
"To say the least, we could definitely use that grant because our track needs to be fixed up. If we could somehow get that grant that would be fabulous," LaPrete said.
The program, administered by Nike’s Community Affairs Department and named after legendary University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman, is intended to provide matching cash grants to programs that seek to refurbish or construct running tracks within a community.
"Our track is in need of an improvement at the high school," LaPrete said. "Although we’d still have to come up with some money for it, the $50,000 grant would be a huge help to us."
While many of the schools that have been helped out in the past through this program are in Oregon, Hazlet would not be the first local school to get involved in the program, as Willingboro High School [Burlington County] was recently awarded a Bowerman grant.
"I know that they [Willingboro] applied for the grant and got their track. At this point, we’re just researching the possibility of even applying for the grant. There are certain criteria that may have to be met, and so we are seeing if we can do this or not," LaPrete said.
If Hazlet is fortunate enough to receive a grant, it will not only benefit the school, but the community as well.
"These tracks become part of the community. It means a lot that the track is a place for everyone," Global Grants Manager Bob Speltz said.