Timeline For Referendum Projects Updated In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The timeline for the Washington Township's referendum projects has been revealed by district officials.

In March, voters in the Washington Township district approved the $28.8 million bond proposal to fund repairs and improvements for each of its schools.

Renovations at Old Farmers Road Elementary are anticipated to cost $2.3 million; Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary is estimated to cost $3.3 million; Flocktown Elementary is estimated to cost $4.8 million; Walter J. Kossman Elementary is estimated to cost $6.7 million; and Long Valley Middle School is estimated to cost $11.4 million.

Prior to the vote, district members indicated that the state of New Jersey had agreed to fund 40% of the referendum.

The state would not have given more than $11 million in school aid if the referendum failed. Furthermore, the district thinks that whether or not the referendum passed, the items on the project list would have had to be addressed at some point.

The improvements, which vary from classroom renovations and extensions to boilers and electrical equipment, will be completed over two to three summers beginning in 2023, according to district officials.

According to Morris County election records, the vote was 908–793. Approximately 20 percent of ballots were cast by mail.

Here is the projected timeline for each of the schools:

Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School

• Spring / Summer 2024 Construction
  • Outdoor patio and pavilion
  • Patio and Pavilion to be completed in Spring 2024
  • Steel Refinishing Fall 2023
  • Masonry repair to follow in Winter 2023-2024
• Summer 2025 Construction
  • Steel refinishing and masonry repair at entry piers
  • Media Center Area for STEM
• Summer 2024
  • Parking Lot Replacement and Bus Loop Drainage

Flocktown Elementary School

• Summer 2024
  • Roof Replacement
• Winter 2023-2024
  • Construction of General Classroom Storage
• Summer 2024
  • HVAC and Electrical Upgrades
• Summer 2025 Construction
  • Asphalt and Sidewalk Replacement
  • Media Center Area for STEM

Kossman Elementary School

• Summer 2024
  • Roof Replacement
  • HVAC and Electrical Upgrades
• Spring 2024
  • Window Replacement
• Winter 2023-2024
  • General Classroom Storage
• Summer 2025 Construction
  • Asphalt and Sidewalk Replacement
  • Media Center Area for STEM

Old Farmers Road Elementary School

• Winter 2023
  • General Classroom Storage
• Summer 2024
  • Asphalt and Sidewalk Replacement
• Summer 2025 Construction
  • Playground Accessibility
  • Media Center Area for STEM

Long Valley Middle School

• Summer 2024
  • Sports Court Replacement
• Winter 2023-2024
  • PA System Replacement
• Summer 2025 Construction
  • Parking Lot and Sidewalk Replacement
  • HVAC & Electrical Upgrades
  • New Emergency Generator
  • STEM Classroom Renovations
  • Culinary Arts Room Renovations

HVAC upgrades are one of the projects mentioned in the referendum, which parents spoke out about earlier this summer after a heat advisory was issued for much of the Garden State, with maximum "feels like" temperatures exceeding 103 degrees.

Despite that, the Washington Township district elected to remain open for full-day schedules throughout the week, which some parents criticized.

During the Sept. 12 board of education meeting, the administration emphasized that scenarios like that are one of the reasons why the district decided to hold the referendum vote earlier this year.

Most recently, the school district was in the process of accepting bids on certain referendum projects, with the hopes of getting the ball rolling as soon as possible.