HILLSDALE—School officials asked approximately a dozen residents Jan. 11 what they thought of a two-part bond referendum question on the lowest-cost middle school renovation option: a $61 million proposal that keeps fifth graders at the middle school and offers a complete renovation of the 100-year-old building.
The proposed September referendum question allows voters to vote yes or no on two parts:
- A bond referendum for $54 million to undertake full renovation of the middle school; and
- A bond referendum to undertake a $7 million project to build a two-story, six-classroom addition for enhanced programming and a projected enrollment increase.
Most of the dozen residents favored the two-part question, and the lowest cost renovation, although a few wondered about the impacts of students housed in temporary classrooms–or on-site trailers–for up to two years.
Trustees told Pascack Press they expected to vote on the bond referendum question at their Feb. 12 meeting. Officials also said they expect to receive $16 million in state aid, which are accounted for in the cost figures presented at the meeting.
While the three renovation options ranged $61 million to $71 million, school officials said feedback from the first two public forums (Oct. 5 and Nov. 1) showed a consensus to focus on the lowest cost renovation option, saving George White Middle School, and decreasing tax impacts on homeowners.
School officials revealed that the third and lowest-cost option of three renovation options for renovating George G. White Middle School–anticipated to cost $61,258,000–was estimated to cost the average homeowner nearly $868 yearly, or $72.52 per month in extra school taxes.
Moreover, officials told us that they planned to propose a two-part bond referendum question on renovation Option 3. Question A asks the voters to vote yes or no on a “full renovation of George White” at a cost of $54,114,000, with an annual tax impact of $724.98 on an average home, or $60.42 per month.
The full renovation also includes reconstruction of a multi-purpose room with two classrooms, and temporary classrooms, or trailers that will temporarily house students during construction.
Question B, asks the voters to vote yes or no on six additional classrooms in a two-story addition for enhanced programming and projected increased enrollment. The total cost for Question B was $7,143,000, for a yearly tax impact of $142.80 on an average home, or $11.90 monthly.
If voters vote yes on Question A, then they move on to Question B to vote. If they vote no on Question A, then their vote is complete. Question B cannot be undertaken without the “full renovation” that Question A proposes, said school officials. Superintendent Robert Lombardy said they need both questions to be approved, although voters have the option to vote no on Question B.
“We need the additional space…”