The City of Summit Board of School Estimates approved a resolution May 29, 2025, authorizing the expenditure and sale of bonds totaling $12,606,500 to fund roof replacements at Brayton Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Summit High School, and to establish the local matching funds required to receive a 40% New Jersey Schools Development Authority Regular Operating District (ROD) grant of $5,042,600.

The funding decision matters because the ROD program requires districts to demonstrate local funding up front before the state provides reimbursement, and the district must expend the money before receiving the state share. "We, a, have to prove to them that we have the funding source available," said Mister Huff, staff member, during the presentation of the grant and project details.

District staff said the four approved projects represent the portions of roofing judged most in need of replacement after architect assessments in late 2022 and early 2023. Project estimates provided at the meeting were: Brayton Elementary, 11,500 square feet, 26 years old, estimated cost $750,000 (state share $300,000); Jefferson Elementary, 5,100 square feet, 17 years old, estimated cost $468,400 (state share $187,360); Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, 59,500 square feet (95% of that roof), 28 years old with original slate to be replaced, estimated cost $6,038,000 (state share $2,415,200); and Summit High School, 83,000 square feet, 22 years old, estimated cost $5,350,100 (state share $2,140,000). The combined total is $12,606,500, with the state reimbursement listed as $5,042,600 and a local share of $7,563,900.

Mister Huff, staff member, said the cost figures include the architect fees and other soft costs but that the majority of the total is hard construction costs. He noted the ROD program reimburses eligible hard costs; the district has accounted for both hard and soft costs in its planning while recognizing reimbursement applies to the eligible hard-cost portion.

The district is running geotherm (thermal imaging) evaluations across all school roofs to verify the condition of decking, insulation and roof coverings and to avoid conflicting recommendations. "We're doing it as a comparison so that we can make sure that all the other roofs are where they're supposed to be," said Mister Smallwood, board member, and he identified the two firms performing the surveys as Garland and Tremco, noting both could also bid on the work.

Officials described the approval process and schedule: the Board of School Estimates vote sends the measure to the City Council, which must approve the resolution over two meetings (anticipated in June and/or July). Architects aim to deliver plans by the end of summer or early fall and the district hopes to bid the projects in the fall. "Once we have the bids then we will work with the contractors on the scheduling because the last thing we want to do is any work that's going to disrupt all of our schooling," Mister Huff said.

Board members clarified the ROD grant funding is separate from a separate $37 million bond proposal described as "Investing in Our Future," which covers athletic and building renovations. Huff said the roofs were submitted for ROD grants and therefore were not included in the bond package. The board also discussed local financing mechanics; Mayor Fagan, mayor, said he would recommend using a bond anticipation note and added, "I think it's gonna save us 2 or $3,000,000," referring to interest-cost differences between immediate bonding and an interim note.

During the special meeting, the board read a resolution that cites Public Law 2022, Chapter 18, which appropriated $350,000,000 to the New Jersey Schools Development Authority for ROD grants and references classification of the projects under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act (Public Law 2000, Chapter 72). After a roll-call vote, the motion carried. Miss Hamlet, board member; Mister Smallwood, board member; Miss Kelly, board member; Miss Coney, board member; and Mayor Fagan voted yes.

Next steps identified at the meeting are City Council approvals, completion of architect plans, a public bidding process and scheduling with contractors to minimize disruption to school operations. The district noted it must expend the local share before receiving reimbursement from the state under the ROD program.

No public comments were offered at the meeting.