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Projects would improve every Willingboro school.
Maintaining eight schools and an administration building is a year-round effort guided by a Long-Range Facilities Plan. Willingboro Public Schools always seeks funding options outside the local tax base to meet the many needs, but at times a better solution is bond funding. With voter approval, bond funding can address $49.7 million in building updates proposed in Question 1. State aid would reduce the local share by $21 million.
The bond referendum includes an extensive list of projects that would improve every Willingboro school. The district focused on projects eligible for state aid to help offset the cost to local taxes. The plan has two important goals:
Adding space for academics by converting classrooms now used for Physical Education and by remodeling libraries for better small-group learning.
Providing students with modern academic and physical education facilities to develop their minds and bodies.
Recording: Virtual Town Hall Feb. 12
Community members heard from district leaders, board members and the financial/architectural advisers who led the planning for the referendum. Participants also asked questions about the plan.
In spring 2024, infrared studies found numerous examples of moisture trapped in the layers beneath roof surfaces. That signals a risk to building integrity, student/staff health, and daily operations.
Roofing protects building integrity/safety.
Roofing protects building integrity/safety.
Having a safe and secure roof overhead is an essential need. Except for Hawthorne Park Elementary School (where the roof was replaced in 2012), every roof in the district has outlived its warranty. New materials would start new warranty periods, easing the pressure on the annual budget for continual repairs.
Roofing repairs or replacements are proposed at Willingboro High School, Memorial Middle School, James A. Cotten Intermediate School, Twin Hills and W.R. James Elementary Schools, and Garfield East and J. Cresswell Stuart Early Childhood Development Centers.
In total, the referendum includes more than 670,000 square feet of roofing, equal to about 11.5 football fields, to preserve school buildings for years to come.
Roof repairs/replacements make up 59% of the costs proposed in the ballot's Question 1.
Gym annexes would restore classroom space.
Gym annexes would restore classroom space.
There are no gymnasiums in our elementary schools. Because of this, much-needed classroom space is utilized to teach physical education classes, which impacts teaching and learning.
Since the end of 2015-16 school year, pre-K and kindergarten enrollment has risen about 150 students – a positive sign for Willingboro Township and the schools at its heart.
One-on-one or small-group instruction helps students catch up and/or keep pace. It also means we need more teaching space.
Half-size gyms are proposed at Hawthorne Park, Twin Hills and W.R. James Elementary Schools. They would provide ample space for physical education classes throughout the year, restoring classrooms to academic instruction and support.
Gym “annexes” would be big enough for a half basketball court, storage areas and restrooms. Entrances would be separate from the main building and security barriers would prevent people from gaining access to the school when the gyms are used for after-school programs or community use.
New, smaller-scale gyms could have a big impact: Adding about 4,000 square feet at three elementary schools would restore much-needed classroom space, helping to keep class sizes smaller and academic outcomes higher.
Libraries can blend books and digital-age learning.
Libraries can blend books and digital-age learning.
Willingboro’s three elementary schools have libraries from the era when books were the mainstay. Tall stacks interfere with clear sightlines for optimal supervision, and they leave little room for digital materials.
Modern media centers have a more selective collection of books and they share floor space with computers, which can access the information in thousands of books digitally. They have collaboration areas where students can work together in small groups. Flexible furniture can be arranged easily for individual students, pairs and trios, or groups as large as an entire class. At Hawthorne Park, Twin Hills and W.R. James, renovations would include removing dark paneling and capitalizing on natural light.
Renovated media centers would be vibrant spaces to meet varied learning styles and to make use of today’s technology.
Some classrooms need restrooms to meet state standards and academic efficiency.
State standards require a restroom inside each pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classroom, so students do not have to leave the room. For its Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDCs), the district utilizes a rule waiver that allows a classroom aide to escort a student to the nearest hallway restroom. These frequent restroom trips diminish the aides’ availability to support teachers and interrupt student instruction.
At the Garfield East and J. Cresswell Stuart ECDCs, restrooms would be built for existing classrooms that serve pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. They would meet current accessibility standards.
Beyond meeting state guidelines, in–classroom restrooms would keep teacher aides focused on instructional support.
Proposed projects would improve every school.
Willingboro High School
Willingboro High School
Since the last renovation of WHS science labs, New Jersey has instituted new science learning standards. The High School’s labs need to be updated to accommodate those standards. In addition, the building’s roof has been patched since its warranty ended in 2020. It needs repairs to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of damage inside the school.
Memorial Middle School
Memorial Middle School
Since the last renovation of science labs, New Jersey has instituted new science learning standards. The Middle School’s labs need to be updated to accommodate those standards. In addition, the roof at the Middle School needs to be replaced to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of damage to the school.
James A. Cotten Intermediate School
The roof at the Intermediate School needs to be replaced to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of future damage to the school. In addition, old floor tiles that contain asbestos continually come loose. That prompts an immediate response with health and environmental precautions. Replacing that flooring with bond funding would eliminate the problem and take advantage of state aid to cover some of the cost.
Hawthorne Park Elementary School
The library/media center at Hawthorne Park would be renovated and equipped to make it a more suitable environment for teaching and learning in the digital age. In addition, physical education classes take place outside when the weather allows, or in two classrooms. There is no gym and the other large room – called the “cafetorium” -- is used for lunch service over several hours each day. An addition with a small-scale gymnasium would free up classrooms for academics.
Twin Hills Elementary School
The library/media center at Twin Hills would be renovated and equipped to make it a more suitable environment for teaching and learning in the digital age. The roof would be repaired to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of damage to the school. In addition, physical education classes take place outside when the weather allows, or in two classrooms. There is no gym and the other large room – called the “cafetorium” -- is used for lunch service over several hours each day. An addition with a small-scale gymnasium would free up classrooms for academics.
W.R. James Elementary School
The library/media center at the school would be renovated and equipped to make it more suitable for teaching and learning in the digital age. The roof would be repaired to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of damage to the school. In addition, physical education classes take place outside when the weather allows, or in two classrooms. There is no gym and the other large room – called the “cafetorium” -- is used for lunch service over several hours each day. An addition with a small-scale gymnasium would free up classrooms for academics.
Garfield East Early Childhood Development Center
To meet state standards, 10 classrooms for the pre-kindergarten program need restrooms built inside them. In addition, safety could be improved in the parking lot and pick-up/drop-off area. The parking lot would be expanded, and the pick-up/drop-off area would be reconfigured. Also, the roof at the school needs to be repaired to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of damage to the school.
J. Cresswell Stuart Early Childhood Development Center
To meet state standards, 8 classrooms for the kindergarten program need restrooms built inside them. Also, the roof at this ECDC needs to be replaced to ensure energy efficiency and reduce the risk of damage to the school.
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