Board reviews HVAC fees, capital projects and tentative 2025–26 budget; public hearing set for May 7

Winslow Township Board of Education members heard updates on capital projects, HVAC upgrades and the district’s tentative 2025–26 budget during the March 26 meeting.

Operations committee chair Miss Bridal told the board that architects’ fees tied to a proposed high‑school HVAC project may rise because the fee is calculated as a percentage of construction costs. “At current estimated cost, land's fee could be as high as $1,100,000,” she said, and the firm was requesting an additional fee increase that would appear on the March 26 agenda for approval.

The district reported that bids for HVAC upgrades at School 5 and School 6 were issued to bidders on March 12 with an addendum posted; bids are due April 3. The board is still awaiting School Development Authority approval for the School 5 project. Other capital items discussed included a roof replacement at the administration building, grease trap replacement for schools 1–4 (on hold for funding), partial high‑school roof work, and construction of an athletics pole barn.

Finance discussion showed the district received an additional $3,200,000 in state aid for the tentative 2025–26 budget and is planning for a 2% increase in the tax levy. The additional state aid was described as helping cover special‑education tuition costs, transportation for out‑of‑district placements, teacher aides, higher health‑benefit costs, a school bus purchase and playground replacements. The superintendent said the public hearing for the 2025–26 budget is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 6 p.m.; the board will be asked to approve the budget at a later meeting.

Board members were also reminded that some administrator and unit contracts end on June 30, 2025, and additional HVAC funding decisions remain pending for several schools. No formal budget adoption occurred at the March 26 meeting; the tentative budget will proceed through the public‑hearing process.