HILLSDALE—School officials said efforts will continue through the summer to move forward on concerns raised at a June 1 resident forum on the recent $82.7 million school referendum defeat.
And they showed interest in a suggestion to broadcast or record school board meetings to enhance public outreach.
At the June 19 school board meeting, held in George G. White Middle School’s cafetorium, approximately 10 residents attended, including Borough Council councilman and school liaison Anthony DeRosa.
Lombardy said June 19 that the forum on the “aging and ailing” middle school was attended by many residents, and he thanked them for “constructively contributing feedback for the board of education.”
He said “common threads” of the June 1 meeting included sending fifth graders (the middle school is grades 5–8) back to the two elementary schools, which would involve construction at both elementary schools to handle the additional students, plus “significant renovation” at the middle school.
He said “another thread” heard on June 1 was to consider lower-cost options, noting some individuals did support the replacement plan. He said some called for more details on renovation options investigated and costs for each listed side by side.
Others called for “increased communication” beyond what was provided by the district, he said.
Several times during meetings attended by Pascack Press prior to the referendum, residents requested that the initial audio-visual presentation on the referendum showing cost comparisons on full replacement and renovation options be made available online.
Several residents repeatedly criticized the district for not putting that AV presentation online. However, the district included similar cost comparison information on its referendum website that went live in late 2022.
In addition to public criticism that the district did not make cost comparison information widely available, public presentations held in district schools were often difficult to hear due to poor room acoustics.
Record or broadcast meetings?
DeRosa suggested that school trustees consider recording and broadcasting board meetings, a request that has been made before by several residents. The Borough Council broadcasts and records its meetings on Zoom and YouTube.
He said broadcasting school board meetings would be a “valuable tool” to get out the word on positive district news and for information about a future middle school referendum.
However, school officials, including superintendent Robert Lombardy and BOE President Nicole Klas, both told Pascack Press later that broadcasting meetings was not a top priority for the future.
Lombardy said a video, possibly similar to a previously produced referendum video, may be one way to reach out to residents about ongoing school projects, and future referendum renovation options.
Klas told Pascack Press that while the board “always looks at new ways” to promote the district, she noted that there were minutes available following meetings for the public.
However, generally, minutes are not made publicly available until approved at a future meeting.
“I’m always willing to listen to the pros and cons,” she said, adding “We never say never.”
She said that the board held a referendum forum in January that was made available on video via the district’s referendum page. She questioned whether people would take the time to watch a school board meeting video online and also how the board could broadcast when its meetings travel to different school venues.
“It’s something we hear,” she said of broadcasting meetings.
On June 20, DeRosa told Pascack Press, “As I mentioned at the meeting, the PV Regional BOE was somewhat reluctant when I suggested it a few years back, however I believe the board has embraced it as a means to keep the community informed of all the positive things happening in the district. If recording their meetings helps promote a revised referendum, then I would think it’s something the board should welcome.”
DeRosa suggested that the local BOE may start by recording its meetings and then upload them to YouTube in 24 or 48 hours. He said recording and uploading meetings helps those who cannot attend in-person, especially seniors and younger families unable to attend in-person.
A referendum committee?
Klas said the board may form an advisory committee to discuss renovation options and public input received at the June 1 forum, but that has not yet occurred.
“It’s still in discussions at this point,” Klas said. “The conversations are continuing and progressing so…there’s not a definite answer yet. We’re moving ahead,” she added.
The March 14 bond referendum to replace the middle school was defeated in all six local polling districts, losing by a final vote of 2,001 against and 1,180 in favor, a nearly 2:1 margin.
The school bond’s approval would have increased average local property taxes by $95 monthly, or $1,140 yearly, on an average $474,172 home.
For a report on the June 1 forum and residents’ suggestions for renovating the middle school, see “Board fields residents’ middle school recommendations,” Michael Olohan, June 12, 2023.