Venditti: Take Advantage of State Funds for School Repairs

Editor's note: This piece was written by Mary Venditti, president of Cranford's Board of Education. It has not been edited. If you'd like to submit a letter to the editor, email whitney@patch.com. Read our coverage of the $20M repair referendum here. Read another letter on this topic here.

On December 8, 2009 the Cranford Board of Education will propose a ballot question to the school district voters at a special school district election.  The board is seeking voter approval to undertake district-wide roof/energy efficiency improvements which include roof replacements at all schools; heating/ventilation upgrades at Brookside Place, Walnut Avenue and Bloomingdale Avenue Schools; and boiler replacements at Orange Avenue, Hillside Avenue and Lincoln schools.

The projects total $19,992,506. The State has agreed to contribute a grant in the amount of 40% of the project costs, or $7,992,506.  The State grant will reduce the local taxpayers’ share of the project costs to 60% or $11,988,763, which will be funded through the issuance of school bonds.  The local tax impact to the average homeowner would be an additional $90.00 to $95.00 a year over a twenty year period starting in 2010-2011 school budget.

These improvements and/or replacements to our local schools are long overdue and quite expensive.  Most of the roofs are more than 25 years old and some of the boilers are approaching 50 years old.  If an emergency situation would arise that would necessitate any of these projects being done we would be forced to make district wide cuts that could be devastating to the education of our children since the State mandates that we have a limited surplus.

Dr. Carrick, our Superintendent of Schools, and Mr. Robert Carfagno, our Business Administrator, presented this proposal to the full Board at our televised meeting on October 26, 2009 and again to the Township Committee at their November 24, 2009 televised meeting. Anyone who has not seen the presentation can access our website at Cranfordschools.org to see the Referendum presentation, Q and A, and a detailed list of the projects and costs.

One question that has been asked by a number of residents is why the district does not provide for the funding of these types of projects as part of the regular budget.  The answer is that due to the cost of the projects and the state requirement that districts must limit the amount they can raise the budget each year, referendums are generally the mechanism that districts use to provide for major improvements.

We understand that many members of our local community are facing financial burdens at this period in time. We would not be seeking the approval of this referendum if it were not for the commitment by the state to fund 40% of the cost of the projects. The money from the state is only available to us for a limited time and we would like to take advantage of  it as a way to minimize the cost of these necessary projects on the local taxpayer.  We would appreciate your support.

Cranford Board of Education
Mary Venditti, President
908-276-6871