SOUTH RIVER — Voters came out Tuesday and overwhelmingly passed a $7 million bond referendum that will bring 21st-century improvements to South River High School.
“We are extremely happy and grateful to the residents for saying yes for the kids,” said Board of Education Vice President Cynthia Urbanik.
Some 577 residents, or 64 percent, voted yes for the referendum and 330 voted no, Urbanik said.
The high school, built in 1961, will receive $14.2 million in improvements. Some 50.6 percent of the project will be funded through a state Department of Education grant.
For a taxpayer with a home assessed at $83,313, the bond would carry a cost of $69.90 per year.
Urbanik said the residents made a smart choice.
“It really sends a great message to the students to show their support and confidence in them,” she said. “This is a great achievement and will make South River High School very competitive … not that [the high school] isn’t a great school; it is good, but this will bring 21st-century improvements for current and future students.”
Urbanik added that with great students and great teachers, there must be a great facility.
“In two years’ time, the high school will be transformed with improvements that are sorely needed,” she said.
The board had begun preparing for the referendum in January after being awarded the state grant, compiling a list of 16 improvements, mostly targeting South River High School.
The improvements include upgrades to the central air conditioning, electrical work, lighting, fire stairs, the gym and gym roof, and security features.
Windows and exterior doors will be replaced; the science lab will be equipped with special education alterations; the locker rooms, music room and auditorium will be renovated, as well as the library.
The library portion includes the addition of a TV studio and media center with a student-centered production room, a district-wide webinar center to maximize professional development opportunities, an opportunity for virtual school instruction and online courses, and a large-group learning environment that would allow for multiple educational presentations.
Some benefits of the project, officials said, include projected energy cost savings over 15 years of $167,200; an improvement in the thermal value of the new windows by three to four times over the existing windows; and reduction of water use in restrooms by approximately 35 percent. Energy costs related to heating would be reduced by approximately 50 percent.
The only item included in the referendum that is not for the high school is a sidewalk extension at the South River Primary School.
District officials are hoping that construction can begin next summer. They said the impact of the construction would be minimal on students, with large-scale construction scheduled for times when school is not in session. Smaller-scale construction would be limited to two rooms at a time, which would be addressed by shifting room assignments.