Boonton Township School District
Vote Tuesday, March 12!
Bond Referendum
The bond referendum did not pass, according to unofficial results.
The tally includes 521 votes opposed and 404 votes in favor, including mail-in ballots that have been received and counted so far.
The Morris County Clerk’s Office will continue to count ballots that are received with a timely postmark, and updates will be posted on this site.
The Boonton Township School District administration and Board of Education thank community members for voting.
Rockaway Valley School staff: Projects would benefit our students
Missed the virtual forum? Watch the recording
Bond referendum overview: Facilities & funding
A panel of professional consultants and Rockaway Valley School teachers answered the community’s questions during a Feb. 28 virtual forum.
Here is a guide to find some of the highlights by time stamp:
7:10: Projects Overview
24:20: Why is a security vestibule proposed only at the main entrance?
28:53: Breakdown of costs by project
35:30: Asbestos abatement
37:30: What are RVS’ current climate control challenges?
42:10: How much work has been done on the roofing already?
47:20: How did the district use federal COVID funds to upgrade HVAC?
56:45: Can the current generator power all the new projects?
59:30: Were building issues addressed previously?
1:04:20: Are these cost estimates specifically related to schools?
1:22:24: What would happen if the district tried to complete these projects without the state funding available through a referendum?
1:24:06: What challenges do the art classes face in the current room?
1:35:10 What does state testing have to do with HVAC?
1:41:15: How will interest rates affect project costs?
1:45:40: Why were these projects chosen for the referendum?
1:49:11: Why is the cost for renovating small spaces like the nurse’s office higher than expected?
1:57:13: Where can I learn more about the referendum?
TOP 6 QUESTIONS THIS WEEK
These questions and many more also appear on our FAQs page
Are the project cost estimates based on actual quotes?
No actual quotes have been received for the proposed projects, and the district will only receive quotes after an approved referendum. Only then will the district invest in asking consultants to create detailed design specifications that are needed for the bidding process. The district will receive true quotes through a competitive process that awards work to the lowest responsible bidder.
In forming the estimated project costs, the architect shared his knowledge of similar projects in similar geographic areas. The numbers are not final, and it is the district’s goal and expectation that the actual costs will be lower.
Also:
Estimated project costs include more than construction; the budget also accounts for professional fees and licenses required for the construction and inspection process.
Estimating school construction projects is much different than estimating for construction projects of a similar scale in the private sector; state requirements lead to estimates that may seem inflated to individuals unfamiliar with the nuanced processes related to school construction.
The district must pay prevailing union wages for labor.
The state also requires the budget to include a contingency amount for possible increases in costs when construction begins 1-½ to 2 years into the future.
Smaller projects proportionally cost more, just as it costs more per unit for one grocery item than to buy in bulk. Contractors still have to secure insurance and pay for supervision on the project site and can’t realize the savings that comes with buying supplies in bulk.
What is the interest rate on bond borrowing, and does state aid help pay for interest?
The interest rates for a school district are tax-exempt rates and therefore they are lower than mortgage or other types of borrowing rates.
Financial advisors who specialize in school bond referenda estimated the bond interest rate at 4.25 percent. Bonds currently sell for lower than that conservative estimate. The exact interest rate will be unknown until the district sells the bonds (through a competitive bidding process), which cannot begin without voter approval.
These details are important to know:
The percentage of state aid committed for the improvements would also apply to the interest. Under the state’s program for bond-funded school improvements, the state helps make payments on the principal and the interest until repayment of the bond.
Like home mortgages, the district can refinance bonds as interest rates fall. That very common occurrence would reduce the total interest paid.
The long term of a bond spreads the costs over many taxpayers – including the ones that will buy a home in Boonton Township 10 or 15 years from now. People who sell their houses before 2046 won’t pay the full amount of that property’s share for these improvements.
How is the district creatively using existing space for special education and other programs?
Boonton Township School District selected projects for the referendum based on the need for modernized spaces and systems, and eligibility for state aid to subsidize the cost.
The district has resourcefully used its existing space to expand instruction and programs, including special education.
Programs are available for students with multiple disabilities and language learning disabilities. We make use of teachers’ open-room schedules to ensure that students with disabilities are not always in a shared classroom space.
In recent years, we also have used space for a STEM lab and to separate classes by grade level to provide more tailored instruction for math and English language arts. That transition involved hiring two more teachers and using more classroom space to offer separate instruction for each grade and each subject for fifth through eighth grades. The classes were previously grouped by fifth and sixth grades, and seventh and eighth grades. The district also prioritizes maintaining the small class sizes that the community values.
Why is the main entrance the most logical choice for a security vestibule?
Steering visitors to one entrance gives us the most control over building security. It makes sense for us to enhance security at our main entrance. In fact, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office made an unannounced visit to check out the building and recommended that we install a security vestibule at that entrance.
We have made many other security improvements over the years, and now allocate funds for Class III officers through our annual budget.
How has the district's use of space evolved to meet modern educational needs?
The district is using more classroom space for a variety of needs. In recent years, we added a dedicated STEM lab, space for students with multiple disabilities, and separated classes by grade level to provide more tailored instruction for math and English language arts. That transition involved hiring two more teachers and using more classroom space to offer separate instruction for each grade and each subject for fifth through eighth grades. The classes were previously grouped by fifth and sixth grades, and seventh and eighth grades. The district also prioritizes maintaining the small class sizes that the community values.
If the referendum doesn't pass, will it be up for another vote in 6 months?
The district and Board designed the March 12 proposal to meet all of the district’s most immediate needs, and to do so with upfront funding and the help of state aid.
If voters do not approve the referendum, the district will have to determine its next steps to fund needed improvements.
The timeline for holding a referendum is largely out of the district’s control. If the district and Board opted to move forward with another referendum, the process would start from square one, with consultants preparing a new proposal for Board approval, then submitting paperwork for state review and coordinating with the county to hold an election. The state review process alone typically takes several months.
State aid and changing market costs are other variables. There’s no guarantee that the state would award as high a percentage of aid for a future proposal as it did for the current package of improvements. Construction expenses typically go up, so a delay of a year or more would likely increase the cost of the projects. Therefore, in delaying the process, we run the risk of cutting projects without significant cost savings.
What would the bond referendum achieve?
Cost savings from operating new, more efficient equipment
Enhanced security at school entrance
Air conditioning in all classrooms, which are used year-round for school and camp
Access to $4.7 million in state aid to offset amount on local tax bills
Space to address lack of storage that impacts daily operations
Continued status as a high-quality district
Upfront funding to complete work within short timeline
The Boonton Township School District is proposing improvements to create a modern learning environment at Rockaway Valley School. If voters grant permission to finance the improvements, the state will contribute $4.7 million toward the $15 million cost.
Future boiler room concept
Future nurse's office concept
Future art room concept
Future storage addition concept
What projects are proposed?
Referendum projects focus on replacing outdated systems and improving the school environment:
Efficient HVAC systems for air-conditioned classrooms and improved air quality
Updated boilers to ensure reliable heating and
Storage addition to address lack of dedicated space for furniture, deliveries and more
Completion of roof replacement, which began in phases over the past two years
LED lighting to save costs and brighten classrooms and hallways
Security vestibule to create another layer of protection at entrance
Electrical upgrades to accommodate updates and modern technology needs
Renovations to make the nurse’s office accessible
Updates to make the art room more functional for the 400 students who use it each week.
Canopies to better identify main and gym entrances, and add lighting and shelter from elements
The cones and buckets in the middle of the gym floor aren't part of an obstacle course; they're needed to keep kids clear of leaks that come in through the roof.
The old storage units are unsightly and inadequate for RVS' needs. A proposed addition would address the lack of storage, which impacts student spaces.
Chairs, choral risers and other items occupy hallways, locker rooms and the stage because there's no other place to put them. A storage addition would create a designated area for furniture, deliveries and more.
Why now?
The Boonton Township School District takes a proactive approach to building maintenance and repairs, but some of our facilities are ready for replacement. Our classroom unit ventilators, for example, are 65 years old, dating to the construction of Rockaway Valley School.
The referendum would offer a long-term solution to our increasingly urgent building needs. Old equipment would be replaced with models that run more efficiently and less expensively.
If voters approve the comprehensive proposal, the district could fast-track priorities such as enhanced security and accessibility, air conditioning and storage space. The state has determined that BTSD is eligible for $4.7 million aid for the improvements. This funding is only available if voters approve the referendum.
*BTSD originally planned to hold a referendum during the 2020-21 school year, as payments from the last referendum were ending. However, the pandemic delayed the timeline for a referendum to fund repairs and renovations. Boonton Township residents previously invested in Rockaway Valley School in 2000 to add the middle school wing.
What's the funding plan?
Boonton Township board members and district leaders believe a bond referendum is the best strategy to balance the dual goals of protecting the community’s investment and minimizing taxpayers’ costs. A bond referendum:
Spreads the project costs over time, much like a home equity loan
Provides access to $4.7 million in state aid (with voter approval) that is not available any other way
Keeps the average local tax impact around $39 a month for $15 million in improvements
Reserves the annual budget for the most appropriate uses that directly support instruction
Lets the district realize long-term savings by upgrading to energy-efficient systems
More to come...
We want Boonton Township residents to have all the details they need to make an informed vote.
Watch this website and the Rockaway Valley School Facebook page for referendum news and events.