Planning
for more crowded future
Harmony panel explores school expansion.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005 • By ANDREA
EILENBERGER • The Express-Times
HARMONY TWP. -- Worried about a proposed development
that would have brought hundreds of homes to the township,
the school district has formed an ad hoc committee to
explore the possibility of a school expansion.
Though facilities adequately house its 315 kindergarten
to eighth grade students, an influx of additional children
could cause overcrowding.
In December, the township's land use board rejected the
315-home Riverwalk proposal submitted by developers Centex
Homes. Board members cited sinkholes and a poor irrigation
system as serious problems with the location.
If a family with two children moved into each new
Riverwalk home, 630 additional students could have been
placed into the district within five years, according to
Mary Lou Unangst, the ad hoc committee's chairperson and
board of education member.
"We aren't acting proactively; we are reacting to what
could be an urgent problem," Unangst said.
Some residents and officials say that the township is
attractive to developers, which could result in unusually
large numbers of children entering the school.
In the last three years, the number of enrolled students
increased by 18, according to the New Jersey Department of
Education.
The Rev. Deane Higgs of the Presbyterian Church in
Harmony said there is an increasing number of young families
in the community whose children will be enrolling in the
school. He also said families move from northern areas of
the state to Warren County because of lower property
taxes.
School board President Andrew Tipton suggested that
expansion talks remain only discussions until more
information is available.
"The two pieces of information that we need to know
first are how much population would increase and the Merrill
Creek decision," he said.
Merrill Creek Reservoir, which is the largest taxpayer
in Warren County, is appealing its tax assessment. Lower
taxes for the reservoir would mean higher taxes for township
residents.
Among the ad hoc committee's general wish list are more
classrooms, computer labs, locker space and a gym
facility.
The school district set aside funds for the gym
facility, but renovation plans have not yet been made.
Currently the all-purpose room serves as a gym, assembly
area and cafeteria. It has been a common concern among
parents drawing the most complaints.
The narrow room doesn't have room for bleachers, and
spectators must stand only a few feet away from the
basketball court.
The school was originally built in 1929, and renovations
were made in 1955, 1967 and 1994. Now, the facility has
three wings besides the original portion that included
separate music and art rooms, a computer lab, a library and
a science lab.
Committee members don't expect to receive state funding
in the next few years for any expansions, since their
facilities adequately meet state school environment
standards.
The ad hoc committee is seeking input from all
residents, not just parents. The committee plans to send a
notice advertising its organization and concerns to all
taxpayers when the district sends a copy of its budget.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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