Schools
Watchung Hills Projects Eligible for 40% State Reimbursement
School board to consider two referendum questions at July 15 meeting.
Members of the Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education met briefly Monday to formally accept the state's statement of eligible costs for the $12.5 million in capital projects the board is considering.
The board held the special meeting in order to submit the forms for a final approval ahead of its July 15 meeting, at which time the wording of a referendum planned for Sept. 24 will be approved.
As part of the preliminary estimated cost forms sent by the Department of Education, board members learned all of the work under consideration was deemed by the state to be for health and safety needs—and therefore eligible for 40 percent reimbursement by the state.
"It's not insignificant that every dime of every project you submitted was eligible for reimbursement by the state—that's not insignificant at all," Lisa Gorab, the district's bond counsel, said.
The board has been eyeing a list of projects that includes:
- Replace steam heating system in south building;
- Replace roof on south building;
- Replace roof, north building;
- Repair and replace non functioning exhaust fans needed for proper heating and AC control;
- Repair two-story window wall;
- Redesign south cafeteria kitchen and serving area;
- Redesign north cafeteria serving area.
A more contentious second question is also under consideration: repaving the school's parking lots at a cost of $1.4 million. While the state has classified the work as a Tier 1 project, board member Lisa DeMizio said she doesn't believe the work is necessary for the safety of the students.
"I don't think the argument can be made to the public that this project rises to the level of the others," she said. She added reports that the work needed to be done because of tripping hazards overstated the danger, and that the tripping hazards were actually on school sidewalks, which could be repaired much cheaper.
But DeMizio was alone in voting against the resolution, accepting the PEC report for the parking lot work, with board member Barry Hunsinger noting a single lawsuit could eliminate any potential savings.
Both resolutions accepting the state's estimates and reimbursement promise were passed by the board.
The discussion was somewhat academic at the meeting, however, since the real decision won't be made until July 15, when board members will consider two possible referendum questions, one totaling $15.5 million and including all of the work and a second separating the parking lot project in a second question for voters.
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