Unofficial Results of Wayne Public Schools' Safety, Security Project Show More 'No' Results

As of now, the unofficial results of the referendum for safety and security projects for Wayne Township Public Schools state that the majority of the public has voted against the project.

The unofficial vote total is 905 “yes” votes and 924 “no” votes, according to the Passaic County website. However, provisional ballots must still be added and therefore the official results will be tallied Friday, the Wayne Public Schools website says.

The community voted on the referendum on Tuesday to decide whether or not to proceed with selling bonds to finance safety and security improvements in Wayne’s school facilities that were identified in a recent facility assessment.

If passed, the referendum would ensure the installment of security vestibules, exterior and interior doors, public access/intercom systems, upgrades to fire alarm systems, panic alarm systems, upgrades to motion sensors, access controls and closed circuit television systems.

According to the Wayne School District, the total cost of the improvements would be $4,808,259 - 40 percent of which would be paid by debt service from the State of New Jersey and 60 percent would be paid by the community. The “cost to [an] average home assessed at $228,200 would be $10.80 for the 2015-16 school year or $ .90 per month.”

The referendum came as a result of a May 2013 safety and security assessment of all Wayne schools and facilities that recommended the following improvements be made:

• Replace breakable glass in doors with impact resistant laminated glass
• Install door contacts alerting staff to entry by an intruder or an unauthorized student egress
• Enhance building access control technology for front office staff, as well as after care staff, to ensure visitors can be properly vetted
• Ensure all classroom and assembly area doors are maintained in a locked position during the course of the school day
• Improve internal communications through enhancement and repair of public address systems and increase cell phone coverage to ensure emergency notifications reach all students and staff

Provisional ballots will be tallied Friday and official results will be released. Check back for updates.