school district of the chathams 2015 referendum plan
DESCRIPTION
School District of the Chathams 2015 referendum planTRANSCRIPT
Chathamss c h o o l d i s t r i c t o f t h e
2015 Referendum PlanA p r i l 2 0 1 5
A Message from the Board of Education warrantedupgradestobetterprepareourstudents.Forthesereasons,theBoardisproposingareferendumtothevoterstoaddressahostofcapitalneedsthatwebelievecannotbedeferredanylongerandthatwillenhancethestudenteducationalexperienceinacomprehensiveway.
Specifically,thisreferendumseekstoreplacethemiddleschoolauditorium,whichdatesto1958,refurbishthehighschoolauditorium,quadruplethenumberofSTEMlabsatChathamMiddleSchool,addclassroomstoourelementaryschools,andmakeimprovementstobothCougarFieldandtheathleticfieldsbehindChathamHighSchool.
Afterconsultationwitharchitects,andwithinputfromthecommunity,theBoardreviewedseveralwaysitcouldrenovate,addspace,andupgradefields.Theproposedreferendumtookintoaccountoptimaluseofspace,costs,andeducationalprogrammingthatwillmeetstandardsandbestpracticesformanyyearstocome.TheBoardspentmuchtimecomparingprojectconceptsandcosts,andisofferingtheproposedplans
asthemostcost-effectiveapproachbytakingadvantageoflowinterestrates,statedebt-serviceaid,andreduced
expenses,withspaceflexibilitythattakesusintothefuture.
OnApril 21,residentswillvoteonboththereferendumandthedistrict’sannualoperatingbudget.Recognizingthatthereferendumseekstoaddresscriticalcapitalandinfrastructureneeds,theBoardhasworkedtodeliveranoperatingbudgetwiththelowesttaxincreaseinmorethanadecade.Webelievethatthetwoproposalstogetherdelivergreatvalueandwillfurtherimproveouralreadyhigh-performingdistrict.
Weencourageyoutoreadthisnewslettertolearnmoreaboutboththeproposedoperatingbudgetandthereferendumplan.Weinviteyoutovisitourwebsiteatwww.chatham-nj.orgforadditionaldetails,ortoemailDr.MichaelLaSusa,theSuperintendentofSchools,[email protected],ortheBoard,[email protected],toansweranyadditionalquestions.
Thankyouinadvanceforyourongoingsupportofouroutstandingschooldistrict.
Sincerely,
TheSchoolDistrictoftheChathamsBoardofEducation
•Schooldistrictenrollmenthasgrown27%since2005.
•Chathamspends12%lessper-pupilthantheaverageNewJerseydistrict.
•ChathamhasdramaticallyexpandeditsSTEMprogramsoverthepasttwoyears.
•ChathamMiddleSchoolhaslessSTEMlabspacethananyschoolinthedistrict.
•Thetwoauditoriumsinthedistrictdateto1958and1976,andvirtuallyalloftheirmaterialsareoriginalandoutdated.
•Upuntilnowallrepairsandrenovationsinthedistrictoverthepasttenyearshavebeencompletedusingthedistrict’soperatingbudgetandcapitalreserveaccount.
Fast Facts
New Jersey Monthly Top Schools, 2014
SchoolPer-Pupil Budgetary Cost
1. Chatham $12,954
2. Haddonfield $12,281
3. Northern Highlands $16,570
4. West Morris Mendham $14,561
5. Millburn $14,608
6. New Providence $13,165
7. Pascack Hills $19,277
8. Glen Rock $16,492
9. Marlboro $14,359
10. Rumson-Fair Haven $16,562
DearCommunityMember,
Eachandeveryyear,theBoardofEducation(Board)strivestopresentaspendingplantotheresidentsoftheChathamsthatdeliversthebestvalueinpubliceducationthatonecanfind.Ourschooldistrictconsistentlyappearsnearthetopofstateandnationalrankings,yettowardthebottomofanyper-pupilcostcomparisonofNewJerseydistricts.Weareproudofthisrecord.
Atthesametime,therehavebeenoccasionsoverthepast20yearswhentheBoardhasdeemeditnecessarytoproposeadditionalspendingmeasurestoaddresscriticalcapitalneeds.Exactlyonedecadeago,theBoardproposedareferendumtoaddressclassroom,athleticfields,gymnasium,andlibraryimprovementstomeetthedemandsofarisingenrollmentandanaginginfrastructure.
Districtenrollmenthasjumpedanother27%inthepasttenyearsandanumberofourfacilities,especiallythosenotaddressedinthe2005referendum,needimprovement.Inaddition,dramaticchangesinthefieldsofSTEM(Science,Technology,EngineeringandMath)have
and Annual Budget
Referendum Scope & Plans
– 2 –
Theschooldistricthasattimesoperatedatorbeyondcapacityinitselementaryschools.Enrollmenthasnotdeclinedaspredicted.SixnewclassroomswillrelievepressureonclassroomuseandenablethedistricttomovecertainprogramsfromSBStoMAS,thuscreatingtwoadditionalclassroomspacesineachschoolbuilding.
Referendum Project Scope
•Addressthetwooutdatedauditoriumfacilitiesformaximumflexibilityandprogramimprovementfortheforeseeablefuture.
•AddSTEMclassroomsatChathamMiddleSchoolbasedoncurrentandfutureprogramneed.•AddK-3elementaryclassroomsbasedoncurrentandfutureprogramneed.•Integratethedistrictadministrativeofficestosavethedistrictnearly$100,000annuallyin
operatingexpenses.•Upgradeandenhanceathleticfacilitiesforincreaseduseandgreaterflexibility.•BringallmajordistrictfacilitiesintoADAcompliancy.
ClassroomAdditionWashingtonAvenueSchool
Washington Avenue School (WAS)
•Buildtwo(2)newclassroomswithbathrooms
ApproximateCost:$1.1million-$100,000=$1 million(statedebtrelief)
ProposedNewAuditorium
Chatham Middle School (CMS)
Constructanewauditoriumthatincludes:
• Increasedseatingcapacity• Modernlighting,sound,andtechnicalfeatures• Adequatespaceforsetconstruction• Criticalstoragespace• Largerstagearea• Dressingrooms
Repurposetheexistingauditoriumtocreate:• Three(3)newSTEMlabstohousecomputer
programming,robotics,andengineeringcourses• Additionalmediaclassroom• Districtadministrativeoffices
Note: new computer labs, engineering lab, and office space cannot be built without building the new auditorium.
Approximatecost:$14.2million-$1.4million=$12.8 million(statedebtrelief)
ProposedSTEMClassroomsandDistrictofficesChathamMiddleSchool
– 3 –
Cougar Field
ManymaterialsandfacilitiesatCougarField,includingthebleachers,fencing,macadam,andparkingplanareinneedofimprovement.Arunning/walkingpathwillhelpsupportoneofourlargestathleticactivities,boysandgirlscrosscountry.
• Reviseparking• Replacespectatorseating(bleachers)• Installnewsoundsystem• Installcrushedcinderwalking/runningpath• Replacemacadamandperimeterfencing
Approximatecost:$1.4 million
CougarFieldUpgrades
2-StoryClassroomAdditionMiltonAvenueSchool Milton Avenue School (MAS)
• Buildfour(4)newclassroomsina2-storyadditionwithbathrooms
ApproximateCost:$2.2million-$300,000=$1.9 million (statedebtrelief)
ChathamHighSchool
Chatham High School (CHS)
Installanewhybrid-surfacemulti-purposefieldwith:
•Propergradinganddrainage•Artificialturfonvarsitybaseballandmulti-usefield
toenableexpandeduseforathleticteams,physicaleducationclasses,andthemarchingband
Renovateexistingauditoriumtoinclude:
• Newenergy-efficientHVACsystem• Upgradestosound,lighting,wallcoverings,andseating• Newroofingsystem• AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)upgrades
Approximatecost:$5.9million-$1.1million=$4.8 million(statedebtrelief)
Total Cost and What the State Will Pay Thetotalcostofthereferendumplanis$24.8million.Theboardexpectstoreceivedebtserviceintheamountof$2.9millionifthereferendumisapproved.
All architect schematics are preliminary drafts.
Q1. Why is there only one referendum ballot question for voters to consider?
TheBoardofEducationbelievesthisreferendumtobeaholisticandcomprehensiveapproachtoimprovethethreemajorcomponentsoftheeducationalexperience:academics,thearts,andathletics.Withthelowinterestratesandstateaid,thereferendumdeliverssignificantvaluetothedistrict.Further,bundlingtheprojectshasthepotentialtoresultinamorecompetitivebiddingprocessandefficienciesinconstruction.
Q2. Why build a new auditorium at the middle school? Why not renovate it instead?
TheBoardhasexaminedsimplyrenovatingeachauditoriumspace.Whilethisisacheaperoption,itresultsinlessseatingcapacityineachfacilityasaresultofA.D.A.requirementsandfailstoaddresscriticalauxiliaryneeds.ItalsoeithereliminatestheopportunitytocreateSTEMlabspaceorit
requirestheconstructionofthoselabsinanotherlocation.
TheBoardhasalsoexaminedexpandingbothoftheexistingauditoriums.However,duetothelocationofeachauditoriumwithinandbetweenexistingschoolfacilities,itisnotafeasibleoption.
Buildinganewfacilityofferstheopportunitytodesignatheaterfacilitythatwouldplaceusonparwithnumerousotherareaschooldistrictsandprovideincreasedseatingcapacity,aproperareaforsetconstruction,appropriatedressingroomfacilities,criticalstoragespace,andother
– 4 –
Referendum and Budget Q & A
Comparison of Current Referendum to 2005 Referendum
Year ProjectsTotal $ Amount of Referendum
Tax Impact per $100,000 of Assessed
Value
Borough Township
2005
GymnasiumsatCMSandWAS;ClassroomsatCMS,WAS,andLAF;CougarFieldHouse;LibrariesatCMSandLAF;TurfFields
$26,712,000 $71 $57
2015
AuditoriumsatCMSandCHS;STEMLabsatCMS;ClassroomsatMASandWAS;CougarFieldImprovements;TurfFieldatCHS
$24,838,000 $25* $25*
Thischartshowsthedifferenceintaximpactbetweenthemostrecentschooldistrictreferenda.Asaresultofhistoricallylowinterestrates,thecurrentreferendumresultsinalowertaximpactthanthereferendumproposedandapprovedadecadeago.*Note:Thisamountreflectsa$5reductionintaxesresultantfromtherefundingofcurrentdebt.
District Design and Technology FacilitiesBuilding Enrolllment # of Tech. Labs Student: Tech .
Lab Ratio
MAS, SBS, WAS 1264 3 421
LAF 681 2 341
CMS 997 1 997
CHS 1194 5 239
ThedistricthasbeeninvestinginitsK-12STEMprograms.Lastyear’ssecondquestionallocated$460,000tobolsteringtheseprograms,includingtheadditionofSTEMteachersattheK-8levels.AsourstudentsareexposedtomoreSTEMcurriculumK-5,itisimportanttoensurethereareadequatefacilitiesandprogramsforthemingrades6-12.Thischartshowsthefacilitiesweaknessinthedistrictisatthe6-8level.ThethreenewDesignandTechnologylabsincludedinthisreferendumwillhelpensurethattheSTEMpipelineintoChathamHighSchoolwillremainstrong.
Per $100 $ 0.0250
Referendum Tax Impact
House Value Tax Increase
Borough$700,000 $178.03
Township$700,000 $171.91
Total Referendum Cost $24,838,000
State Debt Service Relief $2.9m
Interest Rate 3.50%
moderndesignfeatures.
Inaddition,anewfacilityenablesthedistricttoimproveitsdedicatedSTEMfacilitiesatChathamMiddleSchool.AllcomponentsoftheconversionofthecurrentauditoriumintoSTEMlabandofficespacequalifyforstatedebtrelief,reducingthecosttotaxpayersfrom$3.4millionto$2million.Coupledwithsavingsinoperatingcosts,thisisthemostcost-efficientaspectofthereferendumproposal.
Q3. What are the projected operating costs associated with the referendum plan?
Thedistrictestimatestheadditionaloperatingcostsassociatedwiththenewauditoriumtoberoughly$40,000peryearinenergyandcustodialcosts.Thedistrictprojectssavingsbetween$85,000and$100,000fromrelocatingitsdistrictofficesfromtherentallocationatMeyersvilleRoadtoschoolproperty.Therefore,theoperatingcostswouldbenetpositivefortheschooldistrict.
Ifthereferendumfails,noneoftheprojectsproposedwouldmoveforwardandstateaidwouldnotbeawardedatthepresenttime.
– 5 –
Operating Budget Basics 2015-16
1. BudgetarycostsaretakenfromtheNJDOETaxpayers’GuidetoEducationSpending,2014(http://www.state.nj.us/education/guide/2014/)
2. PerformancedataaretakenfromtheNJDOESchoolPerformanceReports,2015(http://education.state.nj.us/pr/)
3. APParticipationRate=Numberofstudents,asapercentageof11thand12thgraders,whotookatleastoneAPtestin2013-2014
4. Post-SecondaryEnrollment=%ofstudentsenrolledinhighereducation16monthsafterhighschoolgraduation
How Chatham ComparesSchool District
Per-Pupil Budgetary
Cost
AP Participation
Rate
Post- Secondary Enrollment
Chatham $12,954 70.1% 93.0%
New Provi-dence
$13,165 42.2% 88.0%
Millburn $14,608 61.9% 87.0%
Livingston $14,385 55.4% 89.0%
Madison $13,752 49.6% 85.0%
Westfield $13,087 44.8% 90.0%
Bernards $13,897 53.6% 88.0%
Summit $14,291 68.0% 84.0%
Montgomery $13,907 62.4% 88.0%
Princeton $18,688 87.8% 86.0%
State Average
$14,783 NA NA
What does the proposed 2015-16 district budget look like?
2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016
Tax Levy Increase 3.46% 3.34% 1.77%
Local Tax Levy 55,874,234 57,742,607 58,767,459
Estimated Annual Tax Impact--per $100,000 of Assessed Value
Chatham Borough $33.63 $25.79 $15.23
Chatham Township $41.32 $48.45 $27.95
Estimated Annual Tax Impact--$700,000 Home
Chatham Borough $235.43 $180.56 $106.62
Chatham Township $289.27 $339.12 $195.67
1.77% proposedtaxlevyincreaseresultsinataximpactper$100,000thatismorethan41% lower thanlastyear’staximpactinboththeBoroughandTownship.
Theproposed2015/2016operatingbudgetwillmaintainandsupportallcurrentdistrictprogramsandclasssizes.Withafocusoncapitalimprovementsviatheproposedreferendum,theBoardhasheldthetaxlevyincreasetoitslowestamountinatleastadozenyears.
State Avg. Chatham Rate of Inflation3.2 2006/7 $12,259 $11,694 $11,6942.8 2007/8 $12,881 $11,585 $12,068 $12,0213.8 2008/9 $13,338 $11,665 $12,406 $12,478
-0.4 2009/10 $13,627 $11,464 $12,877 $12,4281.6 2010/11 $13,290 $11,780 $12,825 $12,6263.2 2011/12 $13,917 $12,019 $13,030 $13,0302.1 2012/13 $14,166 $12,171 $13,447 $13,303
$10,000
$10,500
$11,000
$11,500
$12,000
$12,500
$13,000
$13,500
$14,000
$14,500
$15,000
2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13
State Avg.
Chatham
Rate of Inflation
This chart shows Chatham's spending trend over time. The rate of inflation is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and available at www.usinflationcalculator.com. The per-pupilspending amounts are published through the NJDOE's Taxpayers' Guide to Education and show thethe most recent years for which actual spending per pupil is available.
State Avg. Chatham Rate of Inflation3.2 2006/7 $12,259 $11,694 $11,6942.8 2007/8 $12,881 $11,585 $12,068 $12,0213.8 2008/9 $13,338 $11,665 $12,406 $12,478
-0.4 2009/10 $13,627 $11,464 $12,877 $12,4281.6 2010/11 $13,290 $11,780 $12,825 $12,6263.2 2011/12 $13,917 $12,019 $13,030 $13,0302.1 2012/13 $14,166 $12,171 $13,447 $13,303
$10,000
$10,500
$11,000
$11,500
$12,000
$12,500
$13,000
$13,500
$14,000
$14,500
$15,000
2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13
State Avg.
Chatham
Rate of Inflation
This chart shows Chatham's spending trend over time. The rate of inflation is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and available at www.usinflationcalculator.com. The per-pupilspending amounts are published through the NJDOE's Taxpayers' Guide to Education and show thethe most recent years for which actual spending per pupil is available.
Chatham Spending vs. InflationThischartshowsChatham’sspendingtrendovertime.TherateofinflationispublishedbytheU.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsandavailableatwww.usinflationcalculator.com.Theper-pupilspendingamountsarepublishedthroughtheNJDOE’sTaxpayers’GuidetoEducationandshowthemostrecentyearsforwhichactualspendingperpupilisavailable.
Overview of District ExpendituresProposed 2015-16 Operating Budget
Where can I get more information? Tuesday, April 21, 2015Polls open 7 am – 9 pm
Polling places:Borough Residents: UpperGymnasium—
ChathamMiddleSchoolTownship Residents:GymnasiumC—
ChathamHighSchool
Visitthedistrict’sWebsiteatwww.chatham-nj.org.
E-mail: [email protected]
Read:WatchforperiodicupdatesorcoverageintheStarLedger,DailyRecordandtheChathamCourier.
SpeaktomembersoftheBoardofEducationabouttheplandetails.
School District of the Chathams Board of Education
58 Meyersville RoadChatham, NJ 07928
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDPermit No. 1014
Chatham, NJ 07928
Postal PatronChatham, NJ 07928
Chathamss c h o o l d i s t r i c t o f t h e
JillCritchleyWeber,PresidentMatthewGilfillan,VicePresidentThomasK.BeldingMichelleClarkRichardConnors
KimCroninPhilFranzLataKenneyJohnNonnenmacher
Dr.MichaelLaSusa,SuperintendentPeterDaquila,BusinessAdministrator
ThisnewsletterisapublicationoftheBoardofEducationoftheSchoolDistrictoftheChathamsandispaidforwithlocaltaxrevenues.Aportionofthecolorprintingofthenewsletterhasbeendonatedtooffsetcosts.
Guiding PrinciplesTheSchoolDistrictoftheChathams,recognizingthatpremiereducationalinstitutionsmustexaminetheircurrentpracticesincontextsbothwithinandbeyondtheircommunities,strivesto:
• Equipeachofourstudentswiththecompetenciesandawarenesstosucceedacademically,professionally,andsocio-emotionallyinaglobalenvironment.
• Alignourpracticesandpolicieswithcurrent,evidence-basedresearchinthefieldsoflearning,childdevelopment,andeducation.
• Ensurethatthereisequityofopportunityforeachstudenttoaccessallcurricularandextra-curricularprograms.
• Promoteprofessionalgrowthamongourstaffthroughongoingcollaboration,feedback,andself-reflection.
Regular Instruction – 34%Special Education Instruction – 16%
Co-Curricular Activities and Athletics – 2% Attendance/Nursing Services – 1%
Guidance – 2%
Curriculum/Instruction – 4%General Admin – 2%
School Admin – 4%Central Office & Admin IT – 2%
Operations/Maintenance – 9%
Transportation – 4%
Employee Benefits – 15%
Grants & Entitlements – 1%Debt Repayments – 4%
Theproposedoperatingbudgetsupportsalldistrictprogrammingandresultsinanincreaseof1.77%inthetaxlevy.
A“No”voteonthebudgetmeansthemunicipalgoverningbodieswoulddetermineatotaldollaramounttobecutfromthebudget.Thishasthepotentialtoimpactspecificprograms,staff,andclasssizes.