BOE Gets a 'Seat at the Table' on Bancroft Negotiations

members Thursday put a positive spin on what could have been regarded as a setback.

They responded to a decision earlier this week from the borough to not name the school board as the designated developer for the Bancroft redevelopment. School officials had asked the three-member Board of Commissioners, the highest elected officials in Haddonfield, to give them authority to negotiate with Bancroft for a purchase of its 18.7-acre property adjacent to on Kings Highway East.

The commissioners instead invited school officials to be part of a group they will lead to negotiate with Bancroft for a public purchase of the site that could also include residential development.

“Now we have a seat at the table,” Joe Ehrhardt, a board member said.

Board President Steve Weinstein said the next step is up to them.

“It is up to us now to respond to the request from them," he said. "[They] suggested we begin negotiations for a public purchase, which at this point is largely undefined. In order to take the next step we need to decide what our approach will be.”

The board heard public questions regarding the costs of participating in the redevelopment.

“We have a hard time finding the funds to hire teachers now. How are we going to get the money to hire the teachers if we do build the buildings?” asked parent Michelle Smith.

Weinstein responded, “The board is charged with the responsibility of dealing with the present and planning for the future. And trying to control taxes.”

Superintendent Richard Perry added, "Once this is gone, it's gone. The issues you raised, we'd have to work through. We need to be in the ballgame first."

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