HILLSDALE—Hillsdale’s schools superintendent said the three middle school renovation options presented at an Oct. 5 forum were based on what residents told the district they wanted done, including saving George White Middle School, maximizing state aid, and minimizing tax impacts.
“We heard the feedback and we tried to incorporate that into each of the plans,” said Superintendent Robert Lombardy, referring to a June 1 forum where residents told them what needed to be done at George G. White Middle School following a March referendum defeat.
School officials and consulting architect, DiCara Rubino, presented three options Oct. 5 for renovating the middle school that range in cost from $45 million to $55 million, with two options including moving fifth graders back to elementary schools and one option keeping fifth graders at the middle school.
School officials hope to pick one of the options by late January or early February 2024 and put the question to voters in a second referendum in September.
The first $82.7 million George White replacement referendum in March was defeated by nearly 2 to 1 by voters.
In addition, school officials said that they were hoping to conduct additional public forums in November and possibly December to seek public feedback on what option is preferred.
To reach residents who could not attend, Lombardy said they would post a video of the session soon on the district website. It was not clear if they would set up an email for residents’ questions as they did previously.
In the March referendum, school officials hired a public relations firm for approximately $50,000 to create a web portal, Road to Referendum, and a video on the need for a new middle school. It was not clear if that would occur for a second referendum.
Lombardy said the district needs to make a decision on what renovation option works best by early 2024 to meet deadlines needed for a September bond referendum. He said should a September 2024 referendum pass, construction would not begin until summer or fall of 2025.
Broadly, each of the three new renovation options included extensive renovations and upgrades at the middle school, the use of temporary classrooms (i.e. trailers) to house students for 18–24 months, and an upgrade of the athletic field with artificial turf. (The athletic field will house student/staff trailers for the time period needed for middle school renovations.)
Nearly 80 residents heard the three options that school officials said they had worked on over the summer with architect Joseph DiCara, of DiCara Rubino, Wayne.
Renovations get up to 40% in state aid
DiCara said the state will reimburse renovations up to 40% of state-approved renovation costs. However, DiCara said new construction is more complex, noting a state formula generally offers 2% to 4% state aid for new construction.
Each of the three renovation options includes nearly three times the amount of state aid as the previous $82.7 million replacement referendum that went down to defeat in all six voting districts. Many residents had strongly criticized the prior referendum due to its low state aid reimbursement, which totaled only $5.4 million.
The state aid amounts listed for the renovation options start at $15.9 million for Option 1; $16.06 million for Option 2; and $16.09 million for Option 3. The bond term is anticipated to be a 25-year term.
Moreover, all three renovation options includes a “full renovation” at the middle school including reconstruction of the current multipurpose room, additional parking and rerouting of the drop off zone, use of temporary classrooms (trailers) to house grades 5-8 students), and a new artificial turf field.
Options For Consideration
Option 1, which costs $49.8 million, also includes construction costs for moving fifth graders back to both elementary schools ($123 annually for A.B. Smith addition and $75 annually for a Meadowbrook addition), and a pre-K program and services relocated from Meadowbrook to Smith. The average taxpayer will pay $68 monthly, or $815 per year.
Option 2, which costs $55.2 million, also includes construction costs for moving fifth graders back to elementary schools (same as Option 1), a pre-K program and services relocated from Meadowbrook to Smith, and an enhanced programming wing of new construction at the middle school, featuring robotics, STEM, industrial arts and additional classrooms. The average taxpayer will pay $75.50 monthly, or $905 per year.
Option 3, at $45.6 million, includes “full renovation” at George White, while fifth graders will remain at George White, plus construction to include enhanced programming such as robotics, STEM, and industrial arts, and additional classrooms. The average taxpayer will pay $61.50 monthly, or $737 per year.
Annual Tax Impacts
Under a one-page worksheet offering cost comparisons, all three options list a fixed $40 annual tax cost for trailers, referred to as temporary classrooms. No total cost estimate for the trailers was provided, but previously officials said the price could be $3 million to $4 million for onsite trailers.
According to the worksheet, the overall cost for needed George White renovations under all three options is estimated at $563 annually for the average taxpayer, plus a $14 annual tax for construction of an artificial turf field on the field where trailers will be housed.
Under Options 1 and 2, both include annual tax impacts for the A.B. Smith and Meadowbrook additions to house fifth graders, at $123 and $75, respectively. Option 3 keeps fifth graders at George White, and includes a $120 annual tax impact to expand space for enhanced student programming.
On the cost worksheet distributed, it notes, “All costs are estimates and options subject to change.” The sheet’s reverse side lists “key traits” of the three options.
Following breakout sessions, parent subgroups reported concerns about the long-term impacts of moving students into trailers for up to two years, possible impacts on fifth graders, concerns about students’ education and safety in temporary trailers, and health impacts of artificial turf.
Klas: ‘A lot to consider now’
Following the session, School Board President Nicole Klas said, “I think it was positive with the different (breakout) groups working together,” she said. noting residents got an opportunity to talk about concerns with the three new options.
Klas noted the difference between Option 2 and Option 3 is what happens with fifth graders. Option 2 (and Option 1) send the fifth graders back to their respective elementary schools, and include estimated costs for new additions to be built at both elementary schools.
However, Option 3 keeps fifth graders at George White Middle School and it includes an annual estimated cost of $120 to add classrooms for enhanced programming (robotics, STEM, and industrial arts).
Klas said over the summer about 10 options that were considered by the district and narrowed down to three options. She noted concerns about traffic patterns, artificial turf health questions, and moving the fifth graders. She called the October meeting a “foundation” for future public sessions, adding trustees have much to consider from the forum.
“We have a lot to consider now. There were a lot of good points brought up,” Klas added.
Separately, school officials previously announced a pilot program to broadcast some fall school board meetings. Details should be posted soon on the district website.