School Improvements In Wall Outlined At Referendum Presentation

WALL, NJ — The Wall Board of Education this week heard a more detailed presentation on the improvements planned for the district under two proposed bond referendum questions.

The school district is still awaiting final word from the state to give the go-ahead for one more project under the bonds, but most approvals are in now, according to the board president.

The referendum will go before voters Dec. 13. The board will meet in a special meeting Nov. 1 to give final approval to the wording of the referendum questions, Board President Ralph Addonizio said Thursday.

In an update Oct. 18, Superintendent Tracy R. Handerhan presented slides to the board on the amount of the bond referenda and on the capital improvements planned in each school.

There will be two questions before voters:

• Question #1 will ask for a bond approval that results in no tax increase. Voters would approve $53,078,733 in bonds, reduced by $18,046,792 in state aid ($35,031,941).

• Question #2 will ask for approval of $13,520,475, reduced by $2,009,806 in state aid ($11,510,669). This would result in a tax impact of $60 per year or $5 per month, Addonizio said.

This state aid of nearly $20 million would be lost if the bond is not approved, Addonizio said.

Without the state aid offset, needed improvements to the school could take 25 years to accomplish with no tax increase, he added.

The "Referendum" section of the district website has been expanded to provide the public with information. Visit wallpublicschools.org/vision.

The presentation explained improvements to each school to be funded under the referendum:

Allenwood Elementary:

• replace roofing
• replace/improve HVAC systems
• modernize restrooms
• upgrade fire alarm
• improve ADA accessibility
• install LED parking lot lighting

Central Elementary:

• replace roofing
• replace/improve HVAC systems
• modernize restrooms
• upgrade fire alarm
• upgrade electrical system

West Belmar Elementary:

• replace roofing
• replace/improve HVAC systems
• modernize restrooms
• upgrade fire alarm
• upgrade electrical system
• upgrade mechanicals
• replace asphalt

Old Mill Elementary:

• replace roofing
• replace/improve HVAC systems
• modernize restrooms
• replace lower-level classroom HVAC

Primary School:

• modernize restrooms
• replace low-efficiency windows

Intermediate School:

• replace roofing
• replace/improve HVAC systems
• upgrade electrical system
• replace low-efficiency windows
• removate classrooms
• renovate art room and technology labs
• renovate boys and girls locker rooms

High School:

• replace roofing
• replace/improve HVAC systems
• modernize restrooms
• upgrade electrical system
• renovate auditorium
• renovate graphics and design arts area
• renovate art room
• enhance athletic facilities

In a recent letter to voters, the board wrote that "The primary reason for holding a bond referendum now is that the district has needs at this very moment. Another factor in the timing is debt pay-off. The district is finishing payments on the improvements that voters authorized in 1998. Renewing the current level of debt payments would keep Wall’s schools maintained and the tax rate steady."

The letter said that the "Wall Township Board of Education is strategically packaging the most critical needs into a ballot question that would have no impact on the current property tax rate. A special kind of state aid would cover about one-third of the costs, and the remainder can be paid for as new debt takes the place of old debt."

"Age and the high level of activity have taken a toll on our facilities," the website notes.

The Board of Education worked with district staff and outside professionals in 2019 to review all district facilities inside and out, the website says.

Approval by voters would start the multi-year timeline for repairs and renovations, with completion in late 2025 or summer 2026, the board letter said.