Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Brunswick Township School District places two-question March 11 referendum for HVAC, safety and envelope upgrades
Summary
The North Brunswick Township School District is asking voters on March 11 to approve two referendum questions: $52 million for HVAC, building-envelope and ADA bathroom upgrades and a just-over-$1 million question for window and door replacements; staff said about 40% would be covered by state aid.
A staff member from the North Brunswick Township School District told residents the district will place two questions on the March 11 ballot to fund school facility improvements.
The first question, the staff member said, is for $52 million and would pay for HVAC replacements or new systems across most district buildings, brick work to make building envelopes watertight, and ADA-compliant bathroom upgrades. "We have money coming off the books from debt we have paid," the staff member said, arguing the timing lets the district reinvest without raising taxes and secure state reimbursement.
The second question is described in the presentation as "just over $1 million" and would fund window and door replacements to improve energy efficiency and consistent safety and locking systems.
The staff member said the projects included in the referendum qualify for about 40% state aid, which the district would not receive if it instead addressed problems piecemeal. "This is the opportunity that we have to have the state help us pay for a lot of these facility improvements," the speaker said, adding that doing work piecemeal means taxpayers could end up covering the full cost for any emergent repairs.
District staff described having worked with the Board of Education, architect Pete Campasano and the administration over roughly the last 18 months to review buildings and prioritize projects they said were important for students' health and safety. The presenter noted many boilers and HVAC components are decades old and said frequent failures can force the use of portable units or classroom moves, disrupting instruction.
For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, the staff member directed residents to the district's referendum page at nbtschools.org. The presenter closed by reminding listeners to vote on March 11.
The referendum is set for voter decision on March 11; the district and voters will determine whether to proceed.
