PROJECTS

Upgrading our Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems will enable the addition of air conditioning in all four schools, but that is not the main reason we need to upgrade these systems. Our facilities team has done an exceptional job maintaining these aging systems, but some are as much as 60 years old and it is becoming increasingly inefficient and costly over time to keep them running. Compare it to the high price and difficulty finding car parts – or even a home appliance – that is no longer in production. Newer systems are more energy efficient, which also saves money in the long-term. Importantly, these upgrades qualify for state aid to help offset about one-third of the costs when they are included in a voter-approved bond referendum.

HVAC also makes a difference beyond heating and cooling for comfort. The cooling effects of air conditioning, can impact breathability, energy levels, and mental focus. In addition to regulating the temperature (which only increases as our students carry their personal computers), our schools will gain a greater ability to control air quality for a more effective learning environment. The proposed upgrades and additions of HVAC systems to our facilities will further improve our ability to temper and filter air, and to manage its flow.

LRHSD strives to prepare students for college and career by offering both strong academic courses and practical skill training. Over the years, we have focused on our “Two Graduations” (high school and college), and want to ensure that the initiative also provides opportunities for students who want to pursue a career in the trades and inspires them to graduate from trade school or a specialized certification program and pursue a fulfilling, successful career. Strengthening our Career Pathway programs by adding more professional equipment and forging partnerships with local businesses will help students explore a broad range of interests and abilities.

LRHSD’s expanded Career Pathway programs are open to all LRHSD students, regardless of home high school, with an ASE Automotive Program housed at Seneca High School, a Construction, Building & Carpentry Program housed at Cherokee High School; and a Metalwork, Building & Fabrication Program housed at Lenape High School.

By expanding our career-focused instruction, we can help students pursue a number of high-demand, lucrative, and rewarding careers. This is also an opportunity to aid local, regional, and NJ employers who have expressed an interest in trained workers to join their teams and bolster the state’s economy.

For more details, visit our Career Pathways EXPLORE & FAQs pages.

Our much-used athletics facilities are a key component of the LRHSD high school experience, and athletes and spectators will benefit from modern LED lighting (a long-term cost saver), turf fields at Lenape and Seneca, and press box replacement/renovation at Lenape, Shawnee, and Cherokee. 

Both Cherokee and Shawnee High Schools already have turf fields. Turf fields require little maintenance, which saves the district time and money. The safe, durable surface lasts for many years. In addition to offering equal facilities at all four schools, the new turf fields will be designed for multi-sport use -- giving male and female teams equal access to high-quality playing surfaces.

Turf is increasingly the modern standard for high schools, so much so that athletes who play on grass can be at a disadvantage during high school and at college. Turf also gives all our stellar sports teams the opportunity to host NJSIAA semi-final and final games, a requirement for these match-ups. Parents, classmates, and the community at large get the chance to cheer for teams in the postseason on their home field. The fields are also available to surrounding communities to use when not in use by LRHSD.

The so-called “press box” at each LRHSD stadium is well known by a name that doesn’t tell its current use. Many members of the media prefer to be on the sidelines, but other people use the press box to gain a bird’s-eye view of the field. Game announcers and coaches are often in the press box. When college scouts visit a LRHSD practice or game, they are likely watching from the press box. It provides shelter from inclement weather and houses the stadium sound system that is used for sporting and community events. At Lenape and Cherokee, the bond referendum calls for demolishing the old press boxes and replacing them with prefabricated structures atop new foundations. At Shawnee, the existing press box would be restored. The pressbox at Seneca, LRHSD’s newest school, is not slated for restoration at this time.

School facilities need consistent updates, and we dedicate funding every year in our annual operating budget to make repairs and enhancements. Additionally, the LRHSD facilities and maintenance teams do an outstanding job of and take great pride in maintaining our facilities. When larger-scale updates are needed, school districts strategically position those updates and other maintenance needs into one bond referendum. A voter-approved bond referendum opens the door to specific state aid; without it, the district’s regular budget would have to absorb 100% of the costs.