Frequently Asked Questions

Waldwick’s Board of Education will ask voters on April 20 for permission to borrow money for a defined set of projects that would lead to stronger buildings, stronger curriculum, and stronger security. The proposal would make the school district financially stronger, too, by using state aid to pay about one third of the project costs over the 25-year life of the bond. In all, the improvements would make the Waldwick community stronger because healthy real estate and business climates rely on quality schools.

The timing of this referendum is advantageous because the district is nearly done paying off past bond debt from building the Middle School, so taxpayers have a chance to continue their investment without feeling the full impact of it. Additionally, mechanical systems are beyond their life expectancy; replacing them is the only way to halt the inefficiency that could lead to costly operation and repair costs.

It’s been almost 20 years since Waldwick completed major upgrades at the Middle School. Other buildings have been addressed, and the High School’s needs would be taken care of with voter approval of a bond referendum. The district started making this plan more than a year ago with the focus on a September 2020 vote -- until the governor canceled special elections for the entire state. April 20, 2021 is the first opportunity since then for Waldwick to vote. Public approval would start the process of detailed project plans, state approvals and a competitive bid process. Work could not start significantly until June 2022. Delaying critical building improvements even longer would not be in the best interests of students or taxpayers, because the aging mechanical systems are at risk of requiring emergency repairs that would not only be costly, but would lack the bonus of state aid.

Waldwick’s proposal includes a small addition to create a more secure entrance to the Middle School and High School. It strengthens the taxpayers’ investment in Waldwick schools by replacing the thin, early-1960s-era “skin” of the High School and upgrading mechanical systems that are outdated and inefficient. Other improvements would support modern curriculum needs for science labs, STEAM instruction, and the performing and visual arts.

Recent news reports talk about increased state funding and federal stimulus aid proposed for schools. Both would be appreciated in Waldwick, but it is not certain that these funds could offset some of the cost of the April 20 bond referendum projects.

Federal lawmakers have approved the funding of the American Rescue Plan, but have not yet hammered out the rules for how it can be used and the timeline for distribution. It has been promoted as a way to help school districts address any “learning loss,” to ensure an adequate PPE supply, and to help with costs related to virtual/hybrid instruction. Repairs to ventilation equipment have been mentioned, and we’re monitoring developments to determine if Waldwick could use ARP funds to improve the district’s HVAC systems.

As for the operating yearly budget, Waldwick is estimated to receive $568,000 more in state aid for the 2021-2020 school year. This will provide the district with approximately $2.2 million in total state aid. This extra $568,000 in state aid will be used for recurring operating expenses, as well as for other district maintenance projects.

The High School’s exterior has weakened to the point of inefficiency, which adds to our district costs every year. The proposal calls for replacing the windows and “skin” of the building, and increasing the effectiveness of insulation. Modern HVAC systems would cool and filter air for comfort and quality.

In addition, the proposal addresses security and instructional needs at the High School, including a vestibule-style main entrance – shared with the Middle School – to better control who has access to the classroom areas. Some interior and exterior doors have already been replaced; this proposal would finish the work. Both of those pieces of the proposal are aimed at strengthening security; other pieces would provide stronger support for the curriculum. Renovated science labs and an art room, plus a new STEAM Lab, would meet today’s curriculum needs. Other general classrooms that are simply old would gain energy-efficient LED lighting and new flooring.

Other aspects of the proposal support the Waldwick High School experience, such as HVAC upgrades for classrooms, the music/band areas, the TV studio, gym, cafeteria and auditorium. The Little Theater would benefit from new seating and lighting. Modernized equipment would be more efficient (better for the budget) and would increase comfort (better for learning) whether it’s a hot day, or a day when ragweed or pollen counts aggravate allergies and asthma.

Outside, the proposal calls for replacing the press box, and replacing bleachers with new, bench-style seats with closed risers. While currently safe for use, the current bleachers do not conform to Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Currently, anyone with mobility issues enters the area at the top of the bleachers, with no designated space for people who use wheelchairs. The proposal would add platforms there to meet ADA standards.

The April 20 bond proposal sets aside $1 million for the complete renovation of Traphagen’s Media Center. That is the only area on the Traphagen campus that was not renovated under a long-term plan the Board of Education committed to in 2002. That year, voters approved bond borrowing to build the Middle School and Traphagen’s art/music rooms. The Board earmarked most of its capital budget to overhaul one of Traphagen’s buildings each year. As of January 2019, Old Building 11 was replaced with a new building and all Traphagen buildings had been remodeled with the exception of the Media Center. The bond proposal includes that project, and state aid would cover one-third of the costs.

Crescent Elementary is slated for a repaving project if voters approve the referendum on April 20. Separate from the bond proposal, student bathrooms were renovated in early 2020 with funding from the regular operating budget.

Crescent is not scheduled for more bond-funded work because of $1.2 million worth of improvements done over the past 15 years, including roof replacement, refurbishment of the stage’s floor and replacement of its door, replacement of the front entrance bridge, installation of a new floor in the Multi-Purpose Room, and the conversion of storage space into a Music Room. The district upgraded the school to accommodate full-day kindergarten, installed security features such as new interior and exterior doors and an entry vestibule, and improved electrical service to provide air conditioning in all classrooms. That doesn’t mean Crescent won’t see additional improvements – the district continually invests in the facilities and educational program – but they are not included in the bond proposal.

Waldwick voters last committed to a major, bond-funded investment in school facilities almost 20 years ago. That bond-funded project built the Middle School at the High School campus, the art/music rooms at the Traphagen campus, and the music room at Crescent. Apart from that borrowing plan, the Board of Education committed funding from its regular operating budget to renovate one building each year at Traphagen. Today, only the Media Center/Building 5 needs significant work. Five years ago, the district completed a technology upgrade that improved all school facilities. With those accomplishments in the rearview mirror, the district needs to turn its attention to the High School, which has had minimal renovations since it opened in 1963.

Waldwick’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program has a track record of student engagement and achievement, and the High School’s award-winning STEAM team has competed throughout the state. A modernized lab would bring more functionality and flexibility -- not only for that team but for teachers who could use a space to expand the ways they teach. This is one of the ways the bond proposal aims to create instructional spaces that more strongly support our curriculum.

The Little Theater would receive major upgrades of new seating, flooring, LED lighting, and modern HVAC equipment if voters approve the bond proposal. Already, that space has been improved by the Waldwick Education Foundation’s generous donation of a new audio system, which was installed February 2020.

The minimalist construction of the 1960s no longer provides a secure, efficient or comfortable environment at the High School. Some sections of wall are made of metal and glass panels that are a mere 1/8-inch thin – about the width of two stacked quarters. The aging walls let in drafts while heat escapes, creating a costly problem that has led to higher costs for utilities and repairs. They have outlived their life expectancy, as evidenced by sunlight that comes right through gaps. The proposal calls for replacing the windows and “skin” of the building, and increasing the effectiveness of insulation. It’s time to make the High School building stronger.

A new vestibule at the Middle/High School entrance would better control how people enter those schools, but it is not the only security measure in the bond proposal. Replacing exterior walls at the High School, some of which are thin sheets of metal, is a step toward a more secure building. The High School work would also include new interior and exterior doors that have modern safety features.

In late 2018, voters approved a one-year budget boost to address immediate security concerns such as replacement of some interior and exterior doors at the High School; replacement all of the exterior doors and an interior vestibule at Crescent; and reconfiguring the main office to create a new security vestibule at Traphagen. It also paid for an access-control system at all Waldwick schools. The amount associated with those projects was on the 2019 property tax bills, but not the 2020 tax bills.

New security measures that are part of the April 20 bond proposal include a new vestibule at the Middle/High School entrance that would better control how visitors enter those schools.

Waldwick School District has a long-standing relationship with Di Cara Rubino Architects (DRA), and DRA has extensive experience with school construction projects. The architects would devise a work schedule that minimizes the impact on education activities. That would involve strategic planning to do some projects while school is in session, and to maximize the summertime for significant work. DRA would develop detailed project plans and help guide the competitive bid process. With voter approval on April 20, the most visible work would likely begin in summer 2022, and projects would be substantially complete before the 2023-24 school year starts. See the preliminary timeline.

The state Department of Education has significant oversight when it comes to school improvement projects funded by bond borrowing. If the total actual costs at the completion of the project are less than what was estimated, the district is required to use such amount for tax relief. School districts cannot use bond funding to pay for any projects that weren’t part of the referendum approved by voters. The Board can, however, re-allocate savings from one project’s lower-than-expected costs to cover another project’s higher-than-expected costs -- but only when the projects were part of the referendum.

Contingency amounts are built into the cost estimates for unforeseen conditions that can happen with projects that are planned in one year and completed over the next two or three. If costs are lower for one voter-approved project, the surplus can be used to balance an unexpectedly higher cost for another. But state law prohibits the district from spending more than the amount voters saw on the ballot. If actual bids exceed the referendum amount, the district would search for more efficient means of achieving the referendum’s overall objective. The Board may not expend an amount on the project which exceeds the referendum amount without going back to the voters for approval.

Projects proposed for this bond referendum were strategically selected because they are large in scope and because they qualify for the largest share of state aid. That state aid is only available for specific kinds of projects, and only when they are paid for with voter-approved bond borrowing. The district put as many qualified projects under that “referendum umbrella” as possible, and will accomplish other, smaller-scale projects within the regular operating budget. For instance, the district’s operating budget absorbed the cost of renovating student bathrooms at Crescent and the faculty and staff bathrooms at the High School and Middle School. In summer of 2020, Waldwick upgraded its districtwide wi-fi network. With voter approval of a bond proposal, the district will be able to complete all major projects and shift from a construction plan to a maintenance plan.

Di Cara Rubino Architects (DRA), a firm that has a proven history with the district, would shepherd the projects included in the bond proposal. DRA has handled multiple construction projects for Waldwick and serves one-third of the districts in Bergen County. In fact, the firm works with 52 public school districts in New Jersey, and that sector makes up 90% of the firm’s business. DRA’s previous work at Traphagen Elementary came in on time and under budget. If Waldwick voters approve this bond referendum, the district will follow the state’s rules for seeking competitive bids for the work, and the state Department of Education has an office dedicated to overseeing school construction projects. DRA would oversee other contractors.

There’s simply no way around the district’s critical education and climate-control needs. The plan to solve those problems involved input from expert advisors and from elected Board of Education members. It took a year of research and consideration to narrow the list of priority needs and determine that a bond referendum was the best way to meet them -- because it’s the only way to get more than $9.3 million in state aid. A bond referendum that offers the financial advantage of state aid is a strong Plan A.

But why now? The district is incurring costs for repairs and inefficiencies. Without voter-approved bond borrowing, the costs for replacing mechanical systems and repairing buildings would come from the everyday operating budget. If that’s “Plan B,” Waldwick would not receive state aid for the costs, and a piecemeal approach to fixes would face the uncertainties of inflation. Ultimately, it would not be cost-effective to do this work without a bond proposal, or to let any more time pass.

Anyone who is registered to vote with a Waldwick address can participate in the April 20 bond referendum to make Waldwick schools stronger. If you’re not sure if you are registered, or what address is associated with your registration, find out by entering basic information at this state of New Jersey website.

Residents who are not already registered with their current address must submit that paperwork by March 30 to have a say in the April 20 referendum. The paperwork must be RECEIVED by the county office by that date. Registration forms are available from the VOTE! page.

Polls will be open 2-8pm Tuesday, April 20 at Crescent Elementary, Traphagen Elementary, Waldwick High School, and Borough Hall. Find your poll and other voting details at the Borough of Waldwick's website.

Voting by mail is an easy, convenient way to make your ballot count without waiting in line at the polls, trudging through bad weather, or breaking away from a hectic day at home or work. You can ensure that you’ll receive a Vote By Mail ballot by specifically applying for one with the application form on the VOTE! page. To have the ballot mailed to you, the application must be RECEIVED by the county office by April 13. That sets up a tight turnaround time, because Vote By Mail ballots must be completed and postmarked by the April 20 date of the vote. Rather than risk delay, voters are encouraged to act early to make sure their opinions count. On the Vote By Mail application form, mark the box for "SPECIAL" election and write in the date of 4-20-2021.