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

FROM PAGE 11 monthly, or $1,140 yearly on an average home assessed at $474,172, officials said.

School officials noted that they posted information on costs and renovation options on a “Road To Referendum” portal in late September, months before the March 14 bond referendum.

Moreover, school officials produced a four-minute video describing why a school replacement made the most sense, held a virtual question-and-answer forum, and provided in-person middle school tours for interested residents.

Both Lombardy and Klas said they wanted to seek feedback at the upcoming public forum on the options including moving fifth graders back to their schools, undertaking elementary school renovations, and considering how to repurpose the vacated space at the middle school for remaining 6th through 8th graders.

Klas said the costs for moving the fifth graders back, together with costs for needed renovations at George G. White following the fifth graders move back, all need to be considered.

She said cost estimates for limited renovations and an addition were estimated to be $72 monthly for an average taxpayer only a few years ago. She said estimated costs now for similar renovations may be possibly as high as the original replacement bond costs of $95 monthly.

If a bond referendum is considered, Lombardy said it was unlikely to be on the ballot before September 2024, and possibly later, which would put bonds for sale in 2025 or 2026 if renovations are delayed further.

Klas noted if fifth graders are moved back, that may involve work at both grammar schools and the middle school building.

RIVER VALE

Lombardy noted any work at George White would require the district to temporarily house at least some students in on-site trailers, possibly costing millions.