HILLSDALE—The public schools superintendent told Borough Council members Dec. 13 that he was anticipating “upwards of $2.5 million” in state education aid to help reduce the tax impacts from a proposed $82.5 million school bond referendum to replace the century-old middle school.
Robert Lombardy provided a 30-minute-plus presentation to council on a four-year process by the district, including studies and an ad hoc committee, that ended in a unanimous school board vote in June 2022 to move forward with a referendum to replace the George G. White Middle School.
The vote is scheduled for March 14, 2023.
Lombardy said he is waiting for a preliminary eligible cost letter from the state education department officials to arrive.
Meanwhile, he said a conversation with state education officials that morning went well, adding “so state aid could be coming our way.”
The news won’t be official until he receives official notification, Lombardy said.
Lombardy told members that the ad hoc committee examined four options, finally settling on the $82.5 million full replacement option. He said each of the middle school renovation options involved moving students for up to two years — and nearly $4 million — into custom trailers while school renovations were taking place.
He said the repeated feedback from the community and ad hoc committee, based on renovation costs, the middle school’s age, and cost of “trailering” students at nearly $4 million, was to replace the middle school.
He said due to the school’s age, it was likely renovation costs would expand as more problems were found during upgrades and renovation might end up costing almost as much as its full replacement.
Lombardy’s full presentation was linked to the council’s Dec. 13 agenda.
Councilman Anthony DeRosa said the council wanted to give Lombardy a chance to offer a public presentation on the referendum. Lombardy said he hoped to make another presentation sometime in January.
Last week, Lombardy provided Pascack Press a two-page flier to be distributed to parents and residents. The flier notes approval of a new middle school replacement referendum will provide upgrades not available in the 100-year-old, deteriorating middle school.
These include: New, efficient heating and air conditioning units; new windows, doors and roofs; safe and secure student and visitor building design, with efficient student drop-off/pick-up zones; STEM, robotics, culinary arts, and Think Tank spaces; new science labs; a new gymnasium for students, popular recreation and community athletics; new band, chorus and art spaces; welcoming common areas; cafeteria space and service areas; and staff and visitor parking.
“The existing building would be replaced with new athletic field space, which include turf fields for student use. The fields would also be available for the community in the evenings and weekends,” reads the flier.
Lombardy did not update the possible tax impact from anticipated state aid. He said the estimated tax impact with no state aid was $1,319 yearly, or about $110 monthly on an average home assessed at $474,172.
He said middle school replacement cost was estimated at $450 per square foot, which accounts for project contingencies, and possible labor and supply cost increases.
Lombardy said if voters approve the referendum the district likely would go out for a 25- or 30-year bond, probably a year after approval.
He said the decision to replace the middle school was “not a decision that has been made quickly but something that has been thought out over time…This is a significant investment for the Hillsdale community.”
He said construction was likely to begin in spring 2024 and the district would hope to welcome students to the new middle school in fall 2026.
DeRosa asked what would happen if the bond referendum fails. Lombardy said, “We are out of space, we are out of date, and we are almost out of time.”
He said if the bond vote fails, the renovation process begins anew, with local officials revisiting previous plans, reconnecting with the architect, submitting a new plan to the state education department, and commencing a lengthy approval process to begin upgrades.
He said the renovation costs “will trickle up” over the years and the renovations could end up costing more in the long run.
Councilman John Escobar questioned the estimated $450 per square foot cost and wondered if it could be less.
Lombardy said the $450 per square foot estimate includes a 10% contingency for unanticipated costs. He told Escobar, “Worse than the referendum going down is the referendum passing and not having enough money to pay for it [replacement.]”
Based on comments she heard around town, Councilwoman Abby Lundy asked why the project might not be getting state aid, and said she was told that renovation projects generally draw higher state aid, sometimes 35% to 40% of total project costs.