Bond
goes down to defeat
Vote close on $42M to expand Warren Hills
schools.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004 • By BILL BRAY •
The Express-Times
Voters defeated the $42.8 million Warren Hills Regional
School District's bond referendum Tuesday.
In a 1,267 to 1,021 vote, voters said no to plans to
expand and renovate Warren Hills Regional High School and
Warren Hills Regional Middle School. The project called for
an additional 48,000 square feet at Warren Hills High and
7,400 square feet at Warren Hills Middle School.
School Board President Nancy Fallen said she was
disappointed with the results but expected the close
margin.
"I thought it was going to be in the positive," Fallen
said.
Voters in Mansfield, Washington and Franklin townships
and Washington Borough came out in the rain to vote on the
referendum, which also planned $6 million for a new athletic
facility on Jackson Valley Road, on 15 acres across from the
high school.
In Washington, a steady stream of voters came to the
polls at borough hall.
Peter Wright said he voted yes. Wright has a daughter
who is a junior in the high school but likely won't get to
see any of the construction completed before she graduates,
he said.
"I'm just looking forward to the kids following her ...
That's part of our responsibility, the education of our
kids," Wright said.
Harold and Beth Cohen, also of Washington, both voted
no.
"I think there was too much to it that I don't approve
of," Harold Cohen said. He felt the current football field
was good enough for the high school.
"We've had some great teams on the field," said Cohen, a
lifelong resident of Washington.
Fallen said the board felt the referendum should address
the schools' academic and athletic needs.
The project would have added a new auxiliary gym,
cafeteria, aerobics/wrestling room, weight room, trainer's
and athletic director's offices and additional parking at
the high school. Existing space at the high school was to be
renovated to provide for a larger library, four new art
rooms, two agricultural/science labs with greenhouses, 13
classrooms, two small group instruction areas and an
expanded guidance office.
At the middle school, four new classrooms would have
been added to the rear of the building in a two-story
addition that would also have included an elevator to make
the school completely handicap accessible. Renovations would
have provided the middle school with a larger health office,
a new main office near the front entrance for better
security, seven additional classrooms and a new driveway for
school buses to ease congestion in the surrounding
residential neighborhood.
The $6 million athletic facility would have included a
new football field with a soft artificial turf, a new track
and four tennis courts.
The state has committed to give $13 million toward the
project, leaving approximately $29 million to be funded by
local property taxes. The district planned to repay the debt
over 22 years.
Fallen said she was unsure if the board would go out for
another referendum.
During a public hearing earlier this month,
Superintendent Peter Merluzzi said if the referendum failed,
the district would have to reapply for state aid.
The project was proposed to address overcrowding at both
schools.
eporter Bill Bray can be reached at 908-475-1596 or by
e-mail at wbray@express-times.com.
Copyright 2004
The Express-Times. Used with permission.
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