Chatham Residents: Voters Should Have Most Accurate Information

This latest Letter to the Editor was submitted to Chatham Patch by a number of Chatham residents, including Beth Kneebone, Vivian Cooney, Barb Cappucci, Melissa Cavallone, Laura Finkelstein, Michele Lynch, Michelle Lease, Mae Hacking, Pam Polemeni, Jennifer Barrett, Wendy Kuppenheimer, Emily La Jeunesse

Dear Editor:

We would like to address some of the concerns surrounding the referendum. We write this as Chatham residents and parents and this letter is not intended to express the views of the PTO of the Chathams, Inc., or any individual PTO Board in the SDOC on which each of us serve as President or Vice President. Amongst us, we have children who are currently in the school district, some who have already graduated from the SDOC, and some who are in private high school.

We believe the referendum is an extremely important decision for our highly ranked school system, and voters should have the most accurate information available to make an informed decision on April 21st. Thus far, much of the information disseminated has been factually incorrect. Below are a few important pieces of information:

The “performing arts center” is a new district auditorium space.

The new auditorium will be located at CMS and will be used for plays, assemblies, classes and special events by all schools in the district. The new space will allow the existing CMS auditorium space to be converted into STEM labs, additional classrooms and school district administrative offices; saving the operating budget nearly $100,000 per year. This money will then be available for additional operating expenses going forward.

The CMS auditorium dates to 1958 and the CHS auditorium to 1976.

Neither is ADA compliant and both are very much in need of expensive repairs. The materials are not safe and include a damaged floor with asbestos tile at CMS. The CMS STEM lab has less space than any school in the district with a ratio of 997 students per one lab.

The referendum-funded improvements would correct glaring safety issues.

Our students and staff are at risk of injuries/illness due to the narrow staircase in the CHS auditorium and lack of proper ventilation at CMS. The CHS auditorium is not ADA compliant, and the lack of a center aisle means that persons with disabilities cannot safely exit the building in an emergency. Additionally, the narrow staircase in the auditorium has been the site of several student falls. Next, the lack of ventilation at Chatham Middle School has caused both students and teachers to lose consciousness due to poor air circulation.

Renovating both spaces does not solve the problem.

If we renovate both existing auditorium spaces, instead of creating a new auditorium space, we will reduce the number of seats we currently have in both auditoriums and will still incur a significant renovation cost without the added benefit of the additional classrooms, administrative offices and expanded performing arts facilities.

The Board of Education and our Superintendent have led our schools to consistently high rankings, while dedicating fewer funds than comparable districts.

This group has historically not spent frivolously. After listening to numerous opinions during meetings and open forums, we conclude this to be the most efficient way to meet the school district’s goals, our students’ needs and to maintain the level of excellence of the School District of the Chathams.

It’s not a matter of if these improvements are needed but when. Given the widely anticipated increase in interest rates and the continued deterioration of the existing locations, the time is now. Ask questions. Get answers. Just make sure you get them from an accurate source.

Visit the School District of the Chathams website for factual details about the referendum. Most importantly, please vote!

Respectfully yours,

Beth Kneebone, Vivian Cooney, Barb Cappucci, Melissa Cavallone, Laura Finkelstein, Michele Lynch, Michelle Lease, Mae Hacking, Pam Polemeni, Jennifer Barrett, Wendy Kuppenheimer, Emily La Jeunesse

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More on Patch:

• Chatham Resident: ‘Don’t Vote Based on Misinformation’
• Chatham Borough Resident: Bond Referendum Constrains Funding of Educational Priorities for Years to Come
• Chatham Resident: Misinformed Voters Make Bad Decisions
• Chatham Resident: Proposing Framework For Three-Question Format For Upcoming Referendum
• Township Resident: Taxpayers Will Shoulder Cost of New School Theater for 20 Years
• Chatham Parent: Why I Support the Referendum and Board of Education