Manalapan-Englishtown
Regional School District
State will fund
almost 30% of
school project
Vote set for Sept. 30 in
Manalapan-Englishtown
Regional School District
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
ENGLISHTOWN — State education officials have boosted their contribution to the local school district’s planned Sept. 30 construction referendum.
According to information provided by administrators in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, the latest figures show the state will pay $14.3 million of a $48.8 million construction project.
The $34.5 million balance of the project — if voters approve the plan — will be paid by residents of Manalapan and Englishtown, the two sending communities for the K-8 district.
Previously, the state had expected to contribute $10.8 million to the overall cost of the work being planned at the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School, the Clark Mills School and other district facilities.
School officials are still waiting for final figures that will allow them to determine the annual tax impact of the construction project on property owners in Manalapan and Englishtown.
The news that the state will pay a larger share of the tab was met with appreciation by school officials.
"The projects presented to the citizens of Manalapan and Englishtown are necessary, based upon the expansion of our population and the needs of our children," said James Mumolie, president of the Board of Education. "We are fortunate that this will help reduce the cost to the taxpayers."
Superintendent of Schools Maureen Lally said, "I am thrilled that the state recognized the necessity and importance of our proposal. This is a one-time opportunity for a suburban district such as Manalapan-Englishtown."
The increased funds provided by the state will raise the state’s portion of the cost for the project to 29.35 percent of the total bill, according to information provided by district officials.
"Under the school construction funding program, we had anticipated approximately 20 percent, which was the average for districts similar to us," Lally said. "The fact that the state is awarding us over 29 percent is a wonderful surprise. This means that Manalapan-Englishtown voters will be able to provide for current and future students and pay only a little more than 70 percent for this very realistic project."
Breaking down the cost of the work, at MEMS, Millhurst Road, Manalapan, construction of additions will cost $28.7 million, with the state paying $7.9 million and taxpayers paying $20.8 million.
The present class size at MEMS ranges from 30 to 34 students. After the construction is completed, it is expected that there will be 22 new classrooms which will reduce the class size to 24. There will also be extensions to the physical education facilities, expansion of the cafeteria and air conditioning.
At Clark Mills School, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, the state will provide $3.7 million, while taxpayers will pay $9.6 million of the $13.3 million project. Clark Mills will have an early childhood center for all preschool handicapped and kindergarten students. The new construction will allow for the creation of four more classrooms in each K-3 school in the district.
Additionally, plans call for the replacement of windows at Taylor Mills School, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan; Clark Mills; Milford Brook School, Globar Terrace, Manalapan; and Pine Brook School, Pease Road, Manalapan.
Roof replacements at Taylor Mills, Clark Mills and Lafayette Mills School, Maxwell Lane, Manalapan, are also included on the list, and there is a need to replace heating ventilation and air conditioning systems at Taylor Mills, Pine Brook and Lafayette Mills.
At Lafayette Mills the total construction costs will be $1.8 million, with the state providing $755,760 and local taxpayers spending $1.1 million.
Pine Brook will see $1.7 million in renovations of which the state will provide $700,000 and the local taxpayers $1 million.
At Milford Brook, renovations will total $431,825, with the state providing $172,730 and local taxpayers paying $259,095; and at Taylor Mills, where the total cost for improvements will be $2.5 million, the state will provide $1 million and local taxpayers will pay $1.5 million.
Administrators expect an additional 722 students to be enrolled in the regional district by 2007.