Voters headed to the polls for a special election March 8 to decide various school construction proposals — and they also elected two board members for a new Type II district.
Statewide, there were nine boards of education with construction questions on the ballot.
Statewide amount proposed: $102,039,120
Statewide amount approved: $39,713,600
State funding of proposed questions: $12,272,358
State funding approved: $10,688,622
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 ran 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 were: Holly Shaw, Yvonne Bouknight, Jennette L. Williams, Melanie Deysher, Phaedra Dunn, Lauren Q. Griffin, Noah Gale, Jerold Freier and George C. Simpson.
Dunn garnered 1,948 votes and Deysher received 1,681 votes to win the two open seats.
As for the construction questions, here are the mostly preliminary figures according to the county clerks as of publication time.
School Construction Proposals
Bergen County
Northern Highlands —APPROVED The Northern Highlands Regional High School District sought 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 approved: $8,827,053
State funding: $1,279,802
The Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional High School District—REJECTED The 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 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.
Haworth — APPROVED The Board of Education of the Borough of Haworth sought 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 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 approved: $8,227,479
Proposed bond funding: $6,227,479
State funding: $478,733
Midland Park — REJECTED The Board of Education of the Borough of Midland Park sought 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 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.
Cumberland County
Commercial – APPROVED The Board of Education of the Township of Commercial sought 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 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 approved: $3,060,423
State funding: $2,103,472
Essex County
Essex Fells — APPROVED The Board of Education of the Borough of Essex Fells sought 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 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 approved: $1,045,000
Bond funding: $600,000
State funding: $418,000
Hunterdon County
Clinton — APPROVED The Board of Education of the Township of Clinton — sought 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 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 approved: $1,536,321
State funding: $614,528
Middlesex County
Middlesex — APPROVED The Board of Education of the Borough of Middlesex sought 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 commissioner 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 approved: $6,806,200
State funding: $2,722,480
Morris County
Lincoln Park — APPROVED The Board of Education of the Borough of Lincoln Park sought 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 Middle 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 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 approved: $10,211,124
State funding: $3,071,607