Some New Jersey voters to consider school improvements

Eight South Jersey school districts are among 21 statewide that are asking voters to approve building and capital improvement projects in referendums Tuesday, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Some districts are part of a continuing trend of security upgrades since the 2012 school shootings in Newtown, Conn. More than half of the 21, including Cinnaminson, Moorestown, Haddon Township, Glassboro, and West Deptford, are proposing enhanced security measures, according to the association.

Acknowledging voters' financial stresses, quite a few district officials have been urging residents to allow the schools to take advantage of available state funding and low interest rates and construction costs to do what in some cases is long-needed work.

"This is an opportunity that may never occur again," Cinnaminson Superintendent Salvatore Iluzzi said.

A second proposal, which requires approval of the first, is $6,750,125 for a new high school gymnasium. That would raise taxes $62.49 on the average home.

The third, which requires approval of the first two, is $750,000 to construct tennis courts at the high school. It would raise taxes $6.91.

Beverly's proposal is for $2,723,661, eligible for $1,691,925 in state aid, for boiler, heating and air-conditioning, and window replacement. It would raise taxes $99 a year on a home at the average assessment of $129,000.

Moorestown has two proposals. The first calls for renovation, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation of existing building systems at six facilities, including new roofs, heating and air-conditioning systems, security enhancements, and technology upgrades. It authorizes borrowing $37,651,091 and is eligible for $13,784,436 in state aid. Due to retiring debt, the taxes on a home at the average assessment of $445,716 would decrease by $2.55.

Follow this link:
Some New Jersey voters to consider school improvements