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Montvale Public Schools collaborated with the community in 2019 on the district’s strategic planning. The plan reaffirmed the community’s strong support for small class sizes and desire to see facilities that meet future education needs. Voter approval of this bond referendum offers a path for both, while also allowing the district to tap into state aid that is only shared with school districts where voters approve bonds.
New Classrooms for Projected Enrollment
Our community is growing – and we need to plan accordingly.
By 2023-24, the district is projected to grow from current enrollment of about 940 to 1,090 students. Community members made clear during the district’s strategic planning process that they want class sizes to remain small even as enrollment rises.
The proposal calls for 5 new classrooms at Memorial, and the thoughtful re-purposing of the existing industrial arts classroom into art and music classrooms at Fieldstone (the Arts Wing). Spaces currently occupied by these programs would be renovated for additional classrooms and a wellness center.
We want to allow flexibility for growth, even if it arrives as “bubbles” impacting a few grades with larger class sizes. We want to plan now so that we’re ready in the 3-5 years it will take to turn the proposal on paper into actual classroom space.
STEAM Labs to Foster Curiosity, Build Real-World Skills
Montvale students are empowered every day to be curious learners who will thrive in the 21st century and find solutions to real-world problems.
STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) is a key component of this philosophy. Our children need interactive, modern spaces to perform the hands-on activities that emphasize the application of these concepts in daily life.
Approval of the bond referendum would add STEAM Labs at both Memorial and Fieldstone to meet these modern and emerging instructional needs.
At Memorial, the Memorial Stage would be converted to a STEAM Lab. At Fieldstone, the Media Center would become the interactive hub of the school, hosting the library and the STEAM lab to encourage a love of reading, and to accommodate flexible furniture, accommodating technology, and a broad range of interactivity.
Restrooms at the Athletic Fields and Beyond
High-traffic areas like bathrooms get worn over the years, and in Montvale schools, they haven’t been renovated in almost 20 years. The proposal calls for indoor restrooms to be upgraded, as well as the addition of a stand-alone restroom facility adjacent to the athletic fields at Fieldstone. This restroom could be used by the public during sporting and community events year-round.
In addition, the proposal calls for the reconfiguration of the Memorial parking lot to add spaces, meeting the daily needs of staff, parents and visitors who use the lot.
Boiler Upgrades and Other Building Systems: State Aid Would Offset the Local Cost
Buildings require regular maintenance and upgrades, and one way the school district is taking a fiscally smart approach to funding these budget items is through the bond referendum process. Bond-funded projects qualify for state aid, meaning the district can leverage state funding that is only available to districts with approved referenda. Without approval, 100% of the cost of maintenance would fall on local tax bills.
Given this incentive, the referendum includes funding for the replacement of heat-generating boilers at both schools. Fieldstone has some boilers that are original to the building’s 1966 construction, making it increasingly difficult for the old, inefficient boilers to do the important job of generating heat.
Security and Fire Safety Improvements
Security is top of mind for families in Montvale. The proposal would fund security upgrades, including replacing classroom doors and locksets that are mostly original to the buildings with more secure systems, and by upgrading the fire alarm system with more modern technology. The existing fire alarm systems in both schools, while updated over the years, have many components that are now obsolete and the alarm panel boards can no longer accept upgrades.
If approved, the Fieldstone Media Center entrance would also include an ADA-compliant ramp. Having a separate entrance for special events would also improve security.
Efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning)
While boilers generate heat, the HVAC systems move it through the buildings. This is key to providing climate control throughout the school buildings to create a healthier learning and working environment for children and staff, especially those who have asthma and/or seasonal allergies.
New, energy-efficient HVAC systems would bring air conditioning to areas that don’t have it now, or where current window units, generously donated by the PTO, reach the end of their life cycles.
In addition, the proposal calls for unit ventilators, which bring heat and fresh air into classrooms, to be upgraded to more efficient systems. The unit ventilators were appropriate when they were installed, but they cannot use the MERV 13 filters that are the modern recommendation for schools. The pandemic has made it increasingly evident that advanced air filtration is a priority for health and wellbeing.
Recording: Virtual Info Session
Recording: Virtual Info Session
Montvale Public Schools held a virtual Info Session on Nov. 10 to give the community an opportunity to learn more about the bond referendum before voting on Dec. 14. The 1 1/2-hour event featured the consultants who guided the building plans and financial strategy, as well as administrators and teachers who explained how the projects would benefit students. The public could ask them questions directly.
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