Trenton, March 7, 2022 – Voters will head to the polls for a special election tomorrow, March 8, to decide various school construction proposals – and they will also elect two board members for a new Type II district.
Statewide, the New Jersey School Boards Association has learned of 9 boards of education with construction questions on the ballot.
Statewide amount proposed: $102,039,120
State funding of proposed questions: $11,393,055
Under the Educational Facilities and Construction and Financing Act of 2000, the state will fund at least 40% of eligible school construction costs through annual debt service aid.
In Montclair, nine candidates are running for two open board seats as the result of the district’s recent shift to being a Type II district with nine elected members as opposed to a Type 1 district with seven members appointed by the mayor. The candidates are: Holly Shaw, Yvonne Bouknight, Jennette L. Williams, Melanie Deysher, Phaedra Dunn, Lauren Q. Griffin, Noah Gale, Jerold Freier and George C. Simpson.
Below are the statewide figures gathered from the offices of the county clerks.
School Construction Proposals
Bergen County
Northern Highlands Regional High School District is seeking authorization to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, upgrades and new construction at Northern Highlands High School, consisting of classroom renovations, a new multipurpose field house, drainage improvements and the acquisition and installation of turf fields, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work; (b) to appropriate $8,827,053 for such improvements; and (c) to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $8,827,053.
The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $3,199,505. The projects include $2,886,294 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $8,827,053
State funding: $1,279,802
The Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional High School District is seeking authorization to (a) construct an addition and to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at H.P. Becton Regional High School, and to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at the facility located at 160 Paterson Ave., including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work; (b) to appropriate $56,703,000 for such improvements; and (c) to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $56,703,000.
The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $2,868,826. The projects include $17,351,183 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $56,703,000
State funding: $1,147,530
The Board of Education of the Borough of Haworth is seeking authorization to undertake various renovations, alterations, improvements and upgrades and to construct an addition at Haworth Public School, including acquisition and installation of furniture, fixtures, equipment and any related site work; and (b) to appropriate $8,227,479 partially funded by $2 million available from the board’s capital reserve fund, and to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,227,479.
The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $1,196,832. The project includes $1,455,883 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $8,227,479
Proposed bond funding: $6,227,479
State funding: $478,733
The Board of Education of the Borough of Midland Park is seeking authorization to (a) acquire and to install a new synthetic turf field and to modify, reconstruct and upgrade the existing fields, together with any related drainage improvements, sprinkler, fencing and lighting upgrades at Midland Park Junior/Senior High School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any related site work; and (b) to appropriate $5,622,520 partially funded by $352,000 available from the board’s capital reserve fund, and to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,270,520.
The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $1,090,516. The project includes $4,532,004 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $5,622,520
Proposed bond funding: $5,270,520
State funding: $436,206
Cumberland County
The Board of Education of the Township of Commercial is seeking authorization to (a) undertake various renovations, alterations, improvements and upgrades at Commercial Township Elementary School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any related site work; and (b) to appropriate $3,060,423, and to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $3,060,423.
The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $3,060,423. The project includes $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 68.7314% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $3,060,423
State funding: $1,224,169
Essex County
The Board of Education of the Borough of Essex Fells is seeking authorization to (a) replace the roof at Essex Fells Elementary School, including any related work; and (b) to appropriate $1,045,000, partially funded by $445,000 available from the board’s capital reserve fund, and to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $600,000.
The final eligible costs for the project approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $1,045,000. The project includes $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the project.
Total amount proposed: $1,045,000
Proposed bond funding: $600,000
State funding: $418,000
Hunterdon County
The Board of Education of the Township of Clinton is seeking authorization to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades to the HVAC system at Round Valley School and to undertake various improvements, alterations, and upgrades to the HVAC system, and to replace various windows of Patrick McGaheren School, including the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any site work and b) to appropriate $1,536,321 for such improvements; and c) to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $1,536,321.
The final costs for the project approved the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $1,536,321 (consisting of $687,000 for Round Valley School and $848,521 for Patrick McGaheren School.) The projects include $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiencies standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service and percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $1,536,321
State funding: $614,528
Middlesex County
The Board of Education of the Borough of Middlesex is seeking authorization to (a) undertake various capital improvements, consisting of building systems upgrades, building envelope and site work at Hazelwood Elementary School, Watchung Elementary School, Von Mauger Middle School and Middlesex High School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment and any related work: and (b) to appropriate $6,806,200, and to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,806,200.
The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $6,806,200 (consisting of $641,700 for Hazelwood Elementary School, $524,600 for Watchung Elementary School, $4,159,200 for Von Mauger Middle School and $1,480,700 for Middlesex High School). The project includes $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The board of education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.
Total amount proposed: $6,806,200
State funding: $2,722,480
Morris County
The Board of Education of the Borough of Lincoln Park is seeking authorization to a) undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, repairs, upgrades and to construct an addition at Lincoln Park Elementary School, and to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, repairs and upgrades at Lincoln Park Elementary School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work and (b) to appropriate $10,211,124 and to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $10,211,124.
The final eligible costs for the project approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $7,679,018 (consisting of $2,999,144 for Lincoln Park Elementary School and $4,679,874 for Lincoln Park Middle School). The project includes $643,500 for Lincoln Park Elementary School for school construction facility elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the commissioner of education or not otherwise eligible for state support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The state debt service and percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the project financed with bonds.
Total amount proposed: $10,211,124
State funding: $3,071,607