Community Questions – South Amboy Referendum

The HVAC systems at both schools have long exceeded their life span and are breaking

down with increased frequency. Repair parts for these old systems, including coolant,

are no longer commonly available, forcing the maintenance staff to find creative ways to

keep the systems operational.

At this point, three HVAC systems installed at the schools no longer work and cannot be

repaired.

During the latest cold spell, in which the outside temperatures hovered around four

degrees, five of the HVAC systems were not operational on a typical school morning.

Workers had to climb on the icy roof to make the latest round of emergency repairs. In

the cafeteria of the middle-high school, a stick of wood is placed inside the system just

to keep the damper open, while the HVAC blowers have been running since September

because there are high doubts the system will restart if it is shut off.

Meanwhile, city taxpayers have spent upwards of $800,000 so far this school year on

emergency repairs to old systems, more than double than what was spent last year.

Maintainence staff say the systems will only deteriorate further in the coming years,

causing repair costs to spike, as air temperatures and air quality suffer throughout the

two schools.

Yes, the Board of Education is committed to the local building trades for this project.

Question 1:

The project would cost city taxpayers $20.7 million, payable over 20 years. It is

important to note that future residents – not just current residents – will be paying back

the bonds on the project. The project would cost the taxpayer with the average

assessed home about $323 a year. It is important to note the school district can

refinance the bonds after seven years if rates are more favorable at that time, lowering

the debt owed.

Question 2:

The project would cost city taxpayers $10.4 million, payable over 30 years. Question 2 will only be possible if question 1 passes. 

The project would cost the taxpayer with the average assessed home about $180.71 a year. It is important to note the school district can

refinance the bonds after seven years if rates are more favorable at that time, lowering

the debt owed.

Yes, the state is contributing $7.76 million to offset the cost of the principal and interest. 

Yes.

There has been an ongoing focus to return students to the school district who are now

educated in rented pre-K facilities and in out-of-district special education placements.

We believe all South Amboy students should have the opportunity to attend the city

schools, with friends and neighbors, wherever feasible.

The school district now contracts with two other facilities for pre-K. By adding these

additional classrooms, there will be more space in the city schools to accommodate this

program, which receives substantial subsidies from the state to operate.

In regards to special education, the school district spends $4.2 million a year, in its $22

million school budget, for tuition and transportation. It is expensive and it is sending our

students outside of South Amboy.

School officials have been steadily working to provide more specialized education within

the two schools, adding more speech and occupational therapists, as well as other

specialists that had only been available at these outside facilities. There is a steady

increase each year in the number of students who have been classified for specialized

services in recent years, from 92 students in the 2015-16 school year to 228 students in

the current school year. The trend continues to grow.

This year, 36 students need to attend off-site schools, at an average tuition of $80,564 a

year, plus $41,220 in transportation, as well as additional costs for more specialized

services. By bringing some of these students back into district schools, with this

additional classroom space, it is expected the school district will save hundreds of

thousands of dollars a year, while having these students educated locally, where they

belong.

Unfortunately, no. The school district has about $1.2 million in capital reserves for

emergencies, such as facility repair. In comparison, about 10 years ago, the city school

system only had about $200,000 in reserves and has since been steadily building its

emergency accounts. But, even with more money generated due to careful spending, it

only comprises about 5% of the total school budget. With leaking roofs, failed HVAC

systems, antiquated science labs, crumbling floor tiles and other deep, ongoing

concerns, the only viable and cost-effective solution is a bond referendum to fund all

this necessary work.

Yes. The state Department of Education mandates that capital improvements comply

with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which mandates full

accessibility to public buildings, wherever possible.

It is not that simple. The municipal budget and the school budget are completely

separate; with their own budgets, governing bodies and staff.

However, the school district and the city work cooperatively. For example, the city’s

PILOT funds from developer fees paid for $300,000 in laptops provided to students

during the pandemic for at-home learning. In another demonstration of the partnership,

the city is assigning a School Resources Officer, a patrol officer, to work in the schools

this year. There continues to be conversation between the city and the schools to

discuss ways in which to work together. Unfortunately, this capital improvement project

is too significant to rely on possible aid from the city, and, again, South Amboy does not

want to jeopardize the $9 million available in state aid that supports successful bond

referenda.

The school district eagerly pursues grant opportunities, but we have not seen funding

available for such a significant capital project. However, it is important to underscore

that the state is funding $7.76 million of this project, if voters approve. If the school district

waits and hopes for grants, the opportunity to secure millions of dollars from the state

would be lost.