Wayne Schools Bond Vote: How To Join In Community Discussion Thursday

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne Schools parents and township residents who have questions about how the upcoming school referendum could impact their property tax bill, as well as the future of the district, can ask school officials at a community forum Thursday.

The public school board is asking voters to pass a bond issue to pay for improvements across the district's 15 buildings.

The informative session will start at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15, at Wayne Hills High School Auditorium, 272 Berdan Ave. Residents can attend in-person, or watch the meeting via stream on the township's live TV feed page. The meeting will also be streamed on the WayneHillsTV channel on YouTube, said district officials.

On March 12, Wayne Township voters will be asked to approve the sale of bonds for close to $170 million, with state aid already committed to covering $39 million of those costs.

This would raise taxes about $370 annually for homes assessed at the township average, said school officials. The previously-approved bond to construct Anthony Wayne Middle School, which added $116 in property taxes for the average assessed home, will be paid off by 2025.

The term of the bond would be 25 years.

If voters approve, the district will be able to issue bonds worth $169.8 million to fund a number of projects, which will be repaid over time through property taxes.

This approach is frequently used by school districts to borrow money, spread out building expenditures, and obtain state help that is only accessible with a passing vote.

District officials stated that they are known for maintaining a high standard of education and providing kids with several opportunities to succeed.

However, the district's newest schools are almost 60 years old, meaning that they all require considerable repairs and renovations. In addition, to accommodate the community's rising population, the 100-year-old Preakness Early Childhood Center could be expanded to serve PreK–5 pupils.

As part of its long-range facility planning, the district began the process by conducting a comprehensive facility assessment of all district buildings. Professional advisers evaluated all school buildings to determine what repairs and upgrades were high priorities for the district.

The bond referendum addresses:

• Roof repairs and replacements are at almost every school, and window replacements at many schools. These affect the “building envelope” that protects everything inside and contributes to energy efficiency.
• Upgrades and replacements of building systems, including plumbing, mechanical, electrical, heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC), In addition to reducing repair risks and increasing cost efficiency, these systems play a significant role in health and safety.
• Two-stage security entrances (vestibules) at schools that do not have them now.
• New exterior bleachers at both high schools.
• Significant added space at the Preakness Early Childhood Center to accommodate rising enrollment. It would transform into a PreK–5 school with three classrooms at each grade level and dedicated classrooms for early childhood special education programs.

According to district officials, the 62 projects are designed to bolster security, promote energy conservation, and accommodate the expected increase in enrollment. The Board of Education has said that they have been diligently monitoring an anticipated rise in enrollment for years.

Patch's Vianella Burns contributed to this article.

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