School District Outlines Spending Plan, Need for High School Complex

The Mahwah Board of Education has budgeted $3.85 million of the about $5 million it plans to spend on current capital reserve projects in the district on a “multi-purpose” complex proposed at the high school, according to a budget presentation made by the board’s Facilities Committee at its meeting Wednesday night.

According to the committee’s presentation, the district is planning to work on several facilities upgrade projects in the coming year, including installing a new electrical switchgear at the high school, adding a univent and upgrades to the HVAC system at Joyce Kilmer, and installing boilers at three township schools. Some of those projects will be partially funded by state grants.

The rest of the money, including the $3.8 million for the high school complex, will be funded by the district’s capital reserve account, which district officials have said is money put aside from the budget each year that must be spent on facilities upgrades projects.

The 26,000 square foot indoor complex would include dividable turf fields, five lanes of track, coaches meeting rooms, public restrooms and a new concession stand.

The presentation also outlined an analysis of the need for the projects, which included a schedule of sports events now, which are essentially have space booked in each district school until 9:30 p.m. most nights.

According to a NorthJersey.com report, about 50 residents attended Wednesday’s meeting to question the need for the complex.

Some complained about its proposed cost, while others said it would serve a limited population of students, namely athletes, the report said. Some also argued that the money should be spent on other initiatives, it said.

If the board approves the building, the district will go out to bid on it in June, the report said.