Projects total $82.3 million and qualify for $16.9 million in state aid. 

• ($35.4 M) HVAC, electrical, and other system upgrades, as well as roofing and window replacements at various schools, to improve efficiency and air quality.   

• ($4.9 M) Improvements to the high school science labs to equip students with modern learning environments.     

• ($42 M) A substantial addition at Alpine School, featuring 20 classrooms, a high school-sized gym, and a dedicated classroom for special programs.   

Why aren’t exact project costs known before the vote?   

The state requires school districts to assign project work through a competitive bidding process.  

To preserve the integrity of the process and ensure the district receives the lowest pricing available, school districts typically do not share an itemized list of estimated costs in advance.   

Once a referendum passes, architects will dedicate the resources needed to develop detailed requests for contractors’ proposals. The work goes to the lowest qualified bidder.  

Contingency amounts are built into the project costs to account for potential changes in market conditions and other factors. The district is not allowed to spend more than the amount approved by voters and cannot spend funds on projects other than those included in the referendum. 

HVAC improvement projects qualify for the maximum amount of state aid, so it makes sense to include them in the proposal instead of paying full price for these upgrades.  

Rather than completing upgrades through the district’s Capital Reserve (similar to a savings account), bond funding would allow the district to address needs quickly by gaining upfront funding and efficiently by capturing $2.8 million state aid to offset these project costs.  

If voters approve the referendum, all Sparta schools would receive HVAC upgrades that would improve efficiency and air quality. 

Air conditioning wasn’t always standard in schools as well as cars, homes or offices. For many reasons, it is now standard in these places. 

• This past school year, classes had to be moved outside because the air in classrooms was hotter than the air outside, which disrupted learning. 

• More cautious security measures prevent opening windows and doors to catch a breeze. 

• The school year is longer, stretching nearly to the end of June.  

• Temperatures at the start and end of the school year are now much higher than they were in the past.  

Benefits of HVAC upgrades go beyond indoor temperatures. 

• Circulating air through filters year-round traps pollen and other airborne irritants. 

• Higher rates of seasonal allergies and asthma make climate control more important. 

• Controlling humidity, regardless of the temperature, is better for the conditions of our buildings, as well as the furnishings and computers within them.

• Students can maintain focus and learn better, while staff members can perform optimally, when everyone is comfortable. 

If the referendum is approved, updates to Mohawk Avenue would include: 

• Installing new windows and doors to boost energy efficiency and replace the ones original to the building 

• Upgrading electrical service to accommodate the HVAC upgrades

• Replacing the school’s boiler and the aging HVAC equipment in classrooms with more efficient systems to improve climate control and reduce maintenance costs 

If the referendum is approved, updates to Helen Morgan would include: 

• Replacing roofing to avoid leaks and protect the community’s investment 

• Upgrading electrical service to accommodate the HVAC upgrades 

• Installing new windows to boost energy efficiency and replace the ones original to the building 

• Replacing aging HVAC equipment in classrooms with more efficient systems to improve climate control and reduce maintenance costs 

If the referendum is approved, updates to the middle school would include: 

• Replacing aging HVAC equipment in classrooms, including rooftop units, with more efficient systems to improve climate control and reduce maintenance costs

If the referendum is approved, updates to the high school would include: 

• Renovating three of the building’s original science classrooms and create an innovative biomedical lab to support the Biomedical Science STEM Academy  

• Replacing aging HVAC equipment in classrooms with more efficient systems to improve climate control and reduce maintenance costs 

• Replacing the aging HVAC chiller with more efficient equipment to reduce costly repairs 

If the referendum is approved, updates to Alpine School would include: 

• Constructing a new 46,625-square-foot addition to provide enhanced learning spaces for student growth and eliminate the need for trailers as classrooms. This addition would feature: 

• 10 classrooms for kindergarten  

• 10 classrooms for second grade 

• High school-sized gymnasium with restrooms and separate entrance to support student programs and community use 

• Dedicated classrooms for art, music, Spanish and computer science instruction, matching the other elementary schools in the district  

• Addressing traffic flow to and from the school by creating a new and expanded bus lane and more faculty parking 

• Installing new windows and doors to boost energy efficiency and replace the ones original to the building 

• Replacing the roofing to avoid leaks and protect the community’s investment 

• Upgrading electrical service to accommodate the HVAC upgrades

• Replacing the school’s boiler and the aging HVAC equipment in classrooms with more efficient systems to improve climate control and reduce maintenance costs 

The Alpine School addition would move instruction out of the trailers – a longtime goal for Sparta Township Public Schools. The district has a plan to repurpose the trailers located at Alpine School for office and storage space, if voters approve the referendum.  

In 2023, Sparta Township Public Schools was awarded funding to expand its preschool services to a full-day program for three- and four-year-olds at no cost to parents. We then partnered with community preschool programs to provide expanded services. Currently, we have preschool locations at Alpine School, Helen Morgan School, Goddard and Little Genius.  

The number of preschool classrooms at Alpine School would not increase if voters pass the referendum. We would continue to partner with private preschools in the community to provide services for preschool students.