Verona To Vote On Sweeping School Referendum Nov. 5

VERONA, NJ — Two questions will be presented to residents via an Election Day referendum that could see some much-needed improvements made to township schools.

The referendum is the third and last part of a multi-step, multi-year process to improve district facilities. It will have two questions that will ask residents to allow the district to bond $27.7 million for the projects.

One question will ask residents to approve bonding for $22.2 million for various projects spread throughout the district:

• New roofs at all schools
• Enhancing security systems at all schools
• Repairing boilers
• Replacing the track at H.B. Whitethorne Middle School
• Improving the locker and training rooms at H.B. Whitethorne and Verona High School
• The resurfacing of all playgrounds at all elementary schools

Those projects would cost the average homeowner $14.50 a month, or $174 a year. The second question will ask residents to approve bonding $5.5 million to install air conditioning in all schools. That initiative would cost the average homeowner $3.50 a month, or $43 a year. Together, the initiatives would cost the average homeowner $18 a month, or $217 a year.

The district would only complete the air conditioning project if voters approve the bigger, more costly initiative.

The referendum is part of a multi-year plan to address a $67 million capital improvement project the district formulated in 2005. The project addresses repairing and replacing several areas of the district's aging schools, some of which, like Laning, are 100 years old or close to that age.

The 2005 and 2014 referendums were approved and completed on time and under budget, said Superintendent Rui Dionisio.

The referendums have enabled the district to "chip away" at addressing the needs "in a strategic and responsible manner," Dionisio said.

A public presentation about the referendum is at the bottom of this article. District officials will host another public presentation Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. in the Verona High School auditorium.

For more information about the Verona Public Schools referendum, click here.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com