Forum: ‘A lot of people want to be involved…’

FROM PAGE 1

“We want to get all of our ducks in a row and come fall, come back with a plan,” added School Board President Nicole Klas.

Moving fifth graders out of the middle school was one of the most-repeated comments at a lively June 1 public forum held by school officials following the March 14 defeat of an $82.7 million referendum to replace the century-old George G. White middle school with a new middle school and new artificial turf field.

Other options such as updated renovation option costs for the middle school, plus the costs of housing middle school students during renovations, may also be presented for public comment, said officials.

Schools superintendent Robert Lombardy and board president Nicole Klas told Pascack Press on July 17 that the open public forum planned for September was an opportunity to hear from all residents as they move forward following a June 1 public forum. Lombardy called it an “all voices heard format” where any resident can attend and voice their opinion.

Klas said “more people are invested now to know whatʼs going on” and said that following the June 1 forum, that “Itʼs all in the works, weʼve heard everybody.” She added, “A lot of people want to be involved, so why not have all the voices heard at another forum?”

At the June forum, dozens of residents dinged the district for the referendumʼs high cost, difficulty in finding posted cost comparisons among renovation options, and what some saw as a lack of transparency in providing information on the referendum.

Some critics said the district did not spread the word about the referendum to all local taxpayers.

The referendum was defeated in all six polling districts, losing by a final vote of 2,001 against our national defense, because they continue to deliver:

To Europe, where more than 70 vessels have helped bring supplies and equipment to U.S. allies and partners after Russia once again invaded Ukraine; And to the Indo-Pacific, where multiple strategic sealift ships provide critical maritime propositioning of U.S. military equipment and supplies. What so many of you will do as merchant mariners enables our ability to project power globally, to respond to crises and contingencies on short notice, and to campaign in support of joint operations.” and 1,180 in favor, or 63% voting no and 37% voting yes.

Dedicated during WWII, USMMA has since served the nation in both peace and war. Learn more at WeAreTheUSMMA.com.

Nearly 37% of voters cast ballots, an unusually high number of voters for a typical school election or referendum, which often draw only 10% to 15% of the electorate.

Had voters approved the $82.7 million bond referendum to replace George G. White, a homeowner would have paid $95

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14