Middle Twp. Voters Face March 8 School Election

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township voters will decide two bond proposals March 8 in a special school district election. Polls will remain open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Combined the proposals total $24,645,138.
First bond proposal question for $21,320,439:
Final eligible costs of the improvements approved by the education commissioner are $5,708,114.
They seek to improve, renovate and add new construction at Elementary No. 1 and No. 2 “as well as improvements to the Middle School and High School.”
Approved costs include: $2,747,160 for Elementary No. 1; $1,472,476 for Elementary No. 2; $753,050 for Middle School; $735,428 for High School.
Proposed upgrades include: $12,908,924 for construction in addition to “facilities efficiency standards” developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for state support…”
The projects would include $3,061,500 for Elementary No. 1, $9,835,424 for Elementary No. 2 and $12,000 for the Middle School. State aid would equal 40 percent of the annual debt service, according to a legal advertisement.
Second bond proposal question will only go into effect if the first proposal wins voter approval:
Appropriates $3,324,699 for construction and refurbishment of athletic and playground equipment, athletic fields, concession stand and storage facility, and acquire needed furnishings and equipment and site work. The cost would be borne by taxpayers at $1.70 per month ($20.40 annually) for an average home assessed at $241,000.
As first reported here Jan. 27 in a story by Karen Knight, the plan was unveiled by the Board of Education at its Jan. 21 meeting. At that time Superintendent David Salvo said the board had gone through a “critical facility and site needs” study.
The pre-K-12 district has 2,126 students enrolled, according to the district.
Salvo cited Elementary No. 1: which houses pre-kindergarten, kindergarten through second grades, and the bus garage at Elementary No. 2 as key components that would benefit from the projects.
There the project would upgrade windows, heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as address site drainage and overcrowding in the pre-K classrooms by adding seven classrooms along with a pre-K courtyard and inclusion classrooms. There would also be a dedicated pre-K entrance as well as gymnasium.
At Elementary No. 2: bond would fund a new transportation building, additional parking, redesign of storm water drainage system, replace all skylights, replace existing asphalt shingle and membrane roofing, replace windows in the cafetorium, band and music rooms and administrative offices.
Remove berms and regrade for proper drainage.
Middle School: extend side entry canopy to parent pickup-dropoff, restore existing canopy, upgrade electrical system.
High School: replace glass block windows in gym and replacing HVAC in auxiliary gym.
Architect Patrick Gallagher of Spiezle Architect Group said the district’s goal was no tax impact on property owners.
The referendum, he noted, would avoid any “impact to the budget curriculum funding.”
According to the district website, approval of the first question would have “zero tax impact” “based on average assessed home value of $241,000 and 4.3 percent interest rate, and would receive 10 percent state funding. State funding can only be received if the proposal wins voter approval.”
Approval of the second question would have a $1.70-per-month ($20.40 annual) tax increase for owners of a home assessed at $241,000 and would not receive state funding.
For a complete explanation of the referendum, visit the district website: www.middletwp.k12.nj.us.