Date Set For $169 Million School Referendum Vote In Wayne

WAYNE, NJ — Expect an upcoming referendum on the ballot in Wayne for the school district this March, according to the Board of Education.

On Dec. 21, the board voted to approve the resolution for a $169,766,677 referendum and the wording of the question that will be voted on in a special referendum vote.

The school board voted unanimously to approve the bond question, bond amount and special voting date, which was set for March 12.

School officials previously said the referendum would be "a fiscally responsible strategy" to help fund a multitude of infrastructure and facilities projects that will improve and/or update facilities at every Wayne Township district school.

"A voter- approved bond referendum is the only way to secure a specific type of state aid to fund a portion of the project costs," the board said.

The most critical projects are identified below:

• Perform preventive maintenance around the district – roofs, window replacements, security vestibules, electrical upgrades, boiler replacements, HVAC control systems, HVAC replacements, and ADA accessibility improvements.
• Replace the high schools' bleachers.
• Convert the Preakness Building to a neighborhood elementary school and early childhood facility.

School administrators outlined their district goals at the beginning of June and looked ahead to the Class of 2038 – who are currently preschoolers. District officials said “the time to act is now” to replace 60-year-old school infrastructure and added the district's Niche.com ranking is “hindered by the condition of our facilities.”

The board president, Donald Pavlak Jr., previously stated that school administrators achieved a compromise between providing safe, secure buildings for staff and children and fulfilling their responsibilities to the Wayne community and taxpayers.

Bill Moffitt, Business Administrator for Wayne Schools, stated during the school board meeting that the final referendum information was not yet available due to an outstanding preliminary eligible cost letter (PEC letter) from the New Jersey Department of Education.

"It would be premature to provide additional information at this point," Moffitt said. "The letter is important as it notifies the district of the amount of state aid, state debt service aid, for the one remaining project."

Once the district receives the outstanding PEC letter, the district's financial advisor will complete the related information, which will be shared with the public.

According to Moffitt, the district anticipates getting the letter in the next couple of weeks.