Marlboro Board presents Nov. 4 referendum to add air conditioning to two elementary schools

Marlboro Township School District officials on Tuesday presented details of a $5.3 million referendum on the Nov. 4 general-election ballot that would add classroom air conditioning to Asher Homes and Robertsville elementary schools.

Superintendent Paul Malone said the proposal is designed so taxpayers would not face an added tax burden if voters approve the question. “Put very simply. We’re looking to add air conditioning to both Asher Homes Elementary School and Robertsville Elementary School,” Malone said.

District leaders told the audience that the financing plan combines up to $2.1 million in state school construction aid — described during the presentation as up to 40% of the estimated project cost — with about $3.2 million in the district’s capital reserve account to cover the balance. Vincent Caravell, the district’s business administrator, said the district would issue short-term bond anticipation notes to fund the work immediately and use the state aid and existing reserves to retire that borrowing within the next fiscal year.

Why this matters: Board members framed the referendum as an equity and health issue that would complete air conditioning at all elementary schools in the district. Malone said classrooms that lack cooling present challenges to student focus, to the operation of technology server rooms and to building security because windows and doors are more likely to be propped open in hot weather.

How the financing would work: Caravell said the district would sell bond anticipation notes late in the calendar year to obtain upfront funds, then use a combination of state aid and the district’s capital reserves to retire the notes by July 2026. Robbie (Phoenix Advisors) described a short-term financing device the district plans to use and said preliminary market pricing the presenters discussed was around 2.7% interest for the note period; he said the district expects to borrow only for the minimum time necessary and repay once state aid is allocated.

Scope and construction approach: KSI Consulting Engineers described the planned system as a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat-pump installation — the same basic equipment the district used on earlier elementary projects. Jim Sarnoff of KSI said the design would generally put heat-pump heads in every instructional space where students are regularly present; he estimated roughly 25–30 indoor units per school and said no boiler replacements are included in the package. Sarnoff and others explained that school-scale projects differ from residential installations: the work often includes electrical service upgrades, roof work, refrigerant piping runs, and coordination with existing facilities.

Bids and contingencies: Presenters said the $5.3 million figure is an estimate based on current design work; if competitive bids come in higher than the estimate, the board would need to return for additional approvals or identify other funding. Caravell noted the estimate included a contingency allowance; the presenters said they expect actual bids could come in below the estimate but also warned that deferring the work could increase costs given inflation and supply issues.

Public comment and next steps: Several parents and residents spoke in favor of the referendum at the meeting. Ashley McCormack described heat problems at Robertsville and urged a “yes” vote. Residents also asked for a transparent breakdown of costs, consultant fees and bids; district staff said detailed bid and contract documents will be posted when the project goes to formal competitive procurement if the referendum passes.

Voting and where to find information: The district said the referendum question will appear on the Nov. 4 general-election ballot. Caravell and Malone urged voters to consult the district’s information page (mtps.org/referendum or mtps.org/nodebt as cited in the presentation) for specifics, including videos and a financing FAQ.

What was not decided at the meeting: The board did not take a separate vote on construction contracts at this meeting; final contractor selection and formal contract awards will follow competitive bidding if the referendum is approved.

Ending: If voters approve the referendum, district staff projected work to begin in 2026 with completion in 2027, and said installations would be scheduled to minimize disruption by using summer construction windows.