School Bond Referendum Finalized: See Tax Hikes, Upgrades On Moorestown's Ballots

Correction: A previous version of this article had incorrect financial figures for Ballot Question 2.

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown residents will vote on more than $100 million in school upgrades during the upcoming bond referendum scheduled for Sept. 16.

The Moorestown School District's Board of Education voted Monday to approve two separate ballot questions for the referendum.

Question 1 contains the bulk of the proposed projects, which include expanding William Allen Middle School and various renovations for all district schools. If the majority of voters approve it, property taxes will increase by $444 per year on the average home.

The second question centers around revamping Moorestown High School's athletic fields and moving the maintenance center from the school to a new building nearby, which would free up instructional space. Voter approval would raise taxes by an average of $204 per year.

Question 2's projects can only move forward if Question 1 passes.

During the referendum, township residents will vote on whether the Moorestown School District can issue bonds to fund significant upgrades to all schools and facilities.

Both questions passing would bring an estimated tax hike of $648 per year — $54 per month — to the average assessed Moorestown home, worth $465,125.

But supporters of the referendum, including district leadership, say the upgrades are necessary to address the growing student population, replace outdated infrastructure and create space for free, full-day kindergarten.

Moorestown is one of New Jersey's only school districts that doesn't offer full-day, tuition-free kindergarten.

"Moorestown should be a destination," said Superintendent Dr. Courtney McNeely. "We should be able to show off our facilities and see what we have and to show off our academic integrity, as well."

A successful referendum also means the projects will be partially state-funded. If both questions pass, the state would subsidize $18.7 million of the $108.3 million price tag. Typically, school district must fully fund capital projects through local taxes.

Here's what to know about the upcoming referendum.

QUESTION 1

• Projects on the ballot: William Allen Middle School expansion, upgrading infrastructure at all schools (including HVACs), new roofing at three schools, security improvements, and replacement of tennis courts, stadium turf, and Isenberg Gymnasium.
• Total cost: $80.3 million
• State aid: $15.9 million
• Estimated tax impact: $444 per year ($37 per month)

Question 1 includes the bulk of the district's referendum vision and about three-quarters of the project costs.

Approval would adjust the grade configuration at most Moorestown schools. William Allen Middle School would add 12 new classrooms (24,500 square feet overall) to create space for sixth-graders. WAMS currently only supports Grades 7-8.

Moorestown Upper Elementary School would then support third-graders, giving it a more conventional age setup of Grades 3-5 instead of 4-6.

This would then free up space in the three "lower" elementary schools, which have the greatest overcrowding issues, according to district officials.

The district would add more kindergarten-compliant classrooms to the lower-elementary buildings. Under state regulations, kindergarten classes must each have their own toilet facility and more overall space.

District officials hope to maintain the "neighborhood model" that enrolls younger students in the elementary school closest to them, McNeely said.

"We'd like to preserve that neighborhood model as much as possible by using this referendum to create that much-needed flexible space that will move with our growing population," she said.

HVACs would also be replaced in all schools. The current systems are reaching end-of-life stages with technology that's no longer made. Newer HVACs would be cheaper to operate and maintain, officials said.

QUESTION 2

• Projects on the ballot: Building a new operations center, instructional renovations at Moorestown High School, athletic enhancements (three new turf fields, lighting), and new traffic flow.
• Total cost: $28 million
• State aid: $2.7 million
• Estimated tax impact: $204 per year ($17 per month)

Currently, the district's operations center for maintenance infrastructure is part of an instructional wing at Moorestown High School. If Question 2 is approved, the facility would get a new building on what is currently part of the school field, freeing up instructional space.

The operations center would also have an enclosed bus depot — an adjustment made earlier this year following residents speaking against original plans to move the bus depot to the field behind the Upper Elementary School.

The facility would go over a playing field. But that space would be regained with the construction of three new turf fields.

MORE INFO

The bond referendum is slated for Sept. 16. More information on the proposed projects can be found on the district's referendum website.

Both ballot questions can be found on the exhibit document of Monday's school board meeting. The meeting video is available here.