MONTVALE—Public schools superintendent Darren Petersen says that Tuesday, Dec. 14 is the tentative date for a special school bond referendum vote to tackle important projects.
Meanwhile, a proposal from a public relations consultant the district has hired to help it pitch the plan to taxpayers — the schools’ owners — sheds light on the outline of the referendum, with Petersen promising all the facts and rationale, with costs and property tax impacts, in the near future.
On Aug. 30, the school board contracted with Laura Bishop Communications LLC of Cherry Hill for up to $50,000 to provide communications and public relations “for the Referendum Project,” according to an approved resolution.
The contract runs through Dec. 31, 2021 with an option for annual reappointment. A Pascack Press records request for the related contract revealed the outlines of the referendum proposal.
In addition to adding classroom space, district leaders foresee the need to improve facilities “to continue providing a high-quality, future-focused education rooted in the community’s small-town traditions.”
Moreover, “A modernized media center, STEAM labs, enhanced art and music classrooms, and a wellness area are all part of Montvale’s plans,” the consultant notes.
With state debt service aid as a driving factor, Montvale also plans to include routine maintenance items in a bond referendum, which, if it passes, would upgrade elements of its school safety strategy, including doors, locksets, and fire alarms.
Older building systems would be replaced and more efficient heating and cooling would be added.
“A standalone rest room would be welcomed by the spectators who come to Fieldstone Middle School’s turf field,” the consultant says.
“The administration and Board of Education have been mindful of two key factors as they explored the potential for a bond referendum. A strategic plan with ample community input has helped shape the components of a proposal, and the recent pay-off of existing debt can soften the net impact for taxpayers.
“Additionally, the district has a reputation of being fiscally conservative; leveraging state aid is in line with that,” the consultant says.
The consultant states that Montvale Public Schools educates about 1,000 students and “has seen steady growth in enrollment as more property is converted to residential housing, and as more families move from more densely populated areas. That growth could impact the small [class] sizes that the Montvale community treasures,” the consultant says.
On Sept. 1, Petersen told Pascack Press, “It has been about 20 years since the last major renovations at Montvale’s schools. Some of our building systems need to be replaced with more reliable and efficient equipment, and our facilities need upgrades to keep up with modern curriculum needs and expectations.
“Meanwhile, increasing enrollment projected with all of the developments taking place in Montvale creates a need for more classroom space to maintain small class sizes,” Petersen said.
He added, “In 2019, a strategic plan shaped by community input helped define what Montvale community members expect from their public schools. We have researched how to meet those needs, including the idea of a bond referendum. A voter-approved bond referendum opens the door to new state aid, and so this approach is part of Montvale’s strategic network of funding to maintain quality schools within a responsible fiscal policy.”
He said, “This is a long process with many steps along the way. The Board of Education has researched, but not yet finalized, a project list. Discussions have focused on goals of keeping class sizes low, modernizing our instructional facilities, and taking advantage of state aid to replace old building systems for efficiency and comfort.”
Additional steps in in the process will include “multiple opportunities for the public to learn more about Montvale’s goals and how a bond referendum could achieve them,” Petersen said.
On Sept. 9, he provided us with the tentative date for the referendum: Dec. 14.
The consultant details eight communications strategies for a “Get Out The Vote” campaign:
- Identifying key messages;
- Forming a communications committee;
- Interactive presentations and virtual forums;
- Outlining details/costs in plain language;
- Developing communications for specific media;
- Proactive targeted outreach; • In-person building tours;
- Voter engagement.