$28M Referendum For Long Valley Schools Approved By State

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Washington Township School District Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution last week to allow for a school referendum election to be held on March 14.

Residents in Washington Township will be able to vote on the approximately $28 million referendum.

According to Peter Turnamian, superintendent of Washington Township Schools, the referendum will be held this March and will allow the community to decide whether an investment in the district's school infrastructure is necessary.

The referendum was first approved with a resolution at the board meeting on Dec. 13, however, it was pending state approval, so board officials were not yet able to specify the projects or the costs involved.

However, at last week's meeting, the approved resolution outlined the total costs as well as a timeline for when more information would be available.

The state has granted the board permission to make various improvements, alterations, renovations, and upgrades to all of the district's schools, including the purchase and installation of fixtures, furniture, and equipment, as well as any site work.

The total eligible cost for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education is $28,704,817, which includes:

• $3,306,220: Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School
• $4,806,860: Flocktown Elementary School
• $2,361,813: Old Farmers Road Elementary School
• $6,749,800: Walter J. Kossman Elementary School
• $11,480,124: Long Valley Middle School

The state debt service aid percentage will be 40 percent of the annual debt service due on the projects' final eligible costs, which equates to $11,481,927, according to the school district.

The funds would be used at the middle school for HVAC upgrades such as air conditioning and asbestos removal, court renovations, new paving and sidewalks, and the renovation of unused space for STEM program updates.

Cucinella Elementary would use the funds to rebuild the front pillars and steel paintings, renovate the existing media center for STEM programs, and install new paving upgrades.

Other renovations included in the referendum include new ADA access to a playground at Old Farmers Elementary, as well as new windows and a new boiler at Flocktown Elementary.

The school district is holding several meetings prior to the voting date to promote transparency. Click here to see the complete schedule and a breakdown of the plans for the referendum.