news release
news release
New Jersey School Boards Association, P.O. Box 909, Trenton, NJ 08690-0909
Telephone: (609) 278-5202 • Fax: (609) 695-0413 • Web site: www.njsba.org/PI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org)
Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
(609) 278-5202
· $235 Million, or 72%, of proposed spending, authorized
· State grants to fund 30% of approved projects
[A list of individual election results is at the end of this news release.]
TRENTON, March 12, 2003—New Jersey voters continue to show strong support for school construction and renovation, approving $235 million in school building proposals yesterday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reports.
Voters approved school-construction proposals in 14 of the 18 school districts that held bond referenda on March 11. Overall, they approved 72% of the proposed spending. The approval rate is consistent with school bond elections that have taken place in the state since 2000.
“Despite concerns about a flagging economy, it’s clear that New Jersey citizens are taking a long-term view and investing in education,” said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director. “Many communities in the Garden State have experienced rapid growth, and that has translated to rising enrollments. Voters want to prevent classrooms from becoming overcrowded, and they want to repair and refurbish older schools that may pose health hazards.”
Construction plans approved yesterday will be funded as follows:
Total project costs—$235,351,745.92 ($326,627,293.18 proposed)
State grants—$70,653,078 ($95,511,290 proposed)
Locally financed bonds—$159,164,792.32 ($222,582,127.58 proposed)
Other local sources—$5,533,875.60 ($8,533,875.60 proposed)
Under New Jersey’s Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000, the state funds a proportion of “eligible construction costs” in all communities. The act has enabled many school districts, previously ineligible for any state aid for school facilities, to receive state grants to offset the cost of construction. State grants will cover 30% of the construction costs authorized by voters in Tuesday’s bond elections.
School bond elections can be held on five dates each year: the third Tuesday in January; the second Tuesday in March; the third Tuesday in April (the annual school budget and board member elections); the third Tuesday in September; and the second Tuesday in December.
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The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of more than 600 local boards of education. Established more than 85 years ago, NJSBA represents the education and related health and safety interests of New Jersey's 1.3 million public school students and advocates the positions of the state's local school districts. The Association also provides inservice training and technical assistance to the state's 4,800 local board of education members. School board members, who serve without compensation, are the largest group of elected and appointed public officials in the state.
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION REFERENDA
MARCH 11, 2003
Repairs and renovations to H. Aston Marsh School and Emma C. Attales School.
$3,938,830 – total
$1,496,250 – state grant
$2,442,580 – locally financed bonds
Addition/renovations at William C. Davies Middle School.
$24,194,546.32 – total
$8,329,210 – state grant
$15,865,336.32 ─ locally financed bonds
Addition/renovations at Ramapo Ridge Middle School and Mahwah High School.
$12,842,394 – total cost
$3,319,813 – state grant
$9,522,581 – locally financed bonds
Additions/renovations at Highland Avenue/Godwin Elementary School and Midland Park High School.
$12,272,400 – total
$3,399,232 – state grant
$5,873,168 – locally financed bonds
$3,000,000 – other local sources (lease purchase)
Addition/renovations at River Dell High School and renovations at River Dell Middle School.
$32,572,491.26 – total
$6,481,906 – state grant
$26,090,585.26 – locally financed bonds
Addition/renovations to the Eastampton Township middle and elementary schools.
$17,031,989 – total
$6,312,294 – state grant
$10,719,695 – locally financed bonds
Demolition of a portion of the Riverside Township School and construction of addition, with other renovations.
$16,997,000 – total
$9,161,392 – state grant
$7,835,608 – locally financed bonds
Southampton Township – PASSED (both questions)
Proposal 1: Renovations to three schools, including asbestos removal and installing a new roof, electrical work and heating/ventilation/air conditioning.
$8,426,541 – total
$3,370,617 – state grant
$5,055,924 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: (Contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1) Construction of a parking lot at Southampton Township School No. 1.
$249,120 – total
$0 – state grant
$249,120 – locally financed bonds
Addition/renovations at Eastern Regional High School.
$9,430,633 – total
$973,253 – state grant
$8,457,380 – locally financed bonds
Additions/renovations at the Hunterdon Central Regional High School.
$30,045,434 – total
$10,541,335 – state grant
$16,504,099 – locally financed bonds
$3,000,000 – other local sources (Polytech Building sale proceeds)
South River – PASSED
Construction of a K-2 primary school.
$11,939,795.60 – total
$3,220,920 – state grant
$6,185,000 – locally financed bonds
$2,533,875.60 – other sources
Atlantic Highlands – PASSED
Additions/renovations to Atlantic Highlands Elementary School.
$6,292,000 – total
$2,083,130 – state grant
$4,208,870 – locally financed bonds
Belmar – PASSED
Renovations to Belmar Elementary School.
$5,616,977 – total
$2,246,790 – state grant
$3,370,187 – locally financed bonds
Bradley Beach – PASSED
Renovations to Bradley Beach Elementary School.
$4,030,030 – total
$1,612,030 – state grant
$2,418,000 – locally financed bonds
Morris Hills Regional – PASSED
Additions and renovations to both high schools.
$55,962,552 – total
$12,870,155 – state grant
$43,092,397 – locally financed bonds
Washington Township – PASSED (Questions 1 and 3; Question 2 Failed)
Proposal 1: Acquisition of land and construction of a new elementary school; additions and/or renovations to three other schools.
$23,960,000 – total
$6,015,136 – state grant
$17,944,864 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 2: (Contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1) Additions and/or renovations to three schools.
$2,195,000 – total
$549,424 – state grant
$1,645,576 – locally financed bonds
Proposal 3: (Contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1) Renovations to three schools.
$2,140,000 – total
$856,000 – state grant
$1,284,000 – locally financed bonds
Totowa – PASSED
Additions/renovations to Washington Park School, renovations to Memorial School.
$12,003,606 – total
$3,301,040 – state grant
$8,702,566 – locally financed bonds
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional – PASSED
Construction of a K-4 school and additions/renovations to eight other schools.
$34,485,954 – total
$9,371,363 – state grant
$25,114,591 – locally financed bonds
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