WOODBINE– The referendum on a $6 million dollar modernization project at the Woodbine Elementary School, the first since 1965, has passed according to un-official results.
Borough Council and the Board of Education and Mayor William Pikolycky, first at odds over the referendum, later came to an accord to approve the measure that will include solar panels on the roof as well as needed repairs to the aging elementary school.
With the voters’ approval, grants can now be sought that will provide a majority of funding for the work.
The K-8 district has 224 pupils, including 3-year-olds in full-day pre-kindergarten.
Board of Education President Melissa Rodriguez and school Superintendent Linda Anderson-Towns waited anxiously with architect Dr. Robert Elder and engineer Nick Dalesandro of Design Collaborative as election officials shut down voting machines and added up the votes.
299 votes were counted, a record number according to Rodriguez who said normally school elections turn out just over 100 voters.
The un-official results as of 10:00 p.m. show the referendum passed by 45 votes. 171 Yes and 127 no.
Anderson shouted “we did it” while embracing Elder who said “you deserve this”, after the final machine count was read.
Anderson said she was “thrilled to have the community support the project”.
Dalesandro said they will soon meet to discus the start of the project that could start this summer.
Herald reporter Harry B. Scheeler, Jr. contributed to this report.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
