Approval would allow the district to implement full-day kindergarten program and a myriad of other capital improvements.
Oct. 2 is the day Mt. Laurel’s voters will finally have their say on whether a full-day kindergarten program and a myriad of other capital improvements finally come to Mt. Laurel Schools.
On that day, from noon to 8 p.m., Mt. Laurel’s voters will check “yes” or “no” on the local school district’s $35.5 million bond referendum.
According to the district, this sweeping referendum would fund renovations in all eight of the district’s school buildings.
Approval of the referendum and implementation of a full-day kindergarten program would result in the district building four classrooms at Fleetwood Elementary School and three classrooms at Larchmont Elementary School, with alterations to existing spaces set for the district’s remaining four elementary schools.
Should voters approve the referendum, the district would sell bonds later this school year and begin construction at its buildings for a planned opening of full-day kindergarten in September 2019.
In addition to full-day kindergarten, approval of the referendum would also fund numerous other capital improvements across the district, including the replacement of the fire alarm systems, boilers and HVAC systems in all eight of the district’s school buildings.
According to the district, those items have aged to a “critical” point where the district faces increasing difficulty in finding suitable replacement parts.
District officials also say that having more efficient HVAC motors, blowers and natural gas boilers would save the district more than $194,000 per year, according to an energy-savings study by the district engineer.
Approval of the referendum would also allow the district to undertake additional upgrades to the security systems at each building, which officials say would provide more cameras and door locks and add additional screening devices at the new school vestibules.
According to the district, approval of the referendum would also allow it to fully or partially replace roofing systems at Countryside Elementary School, Fleetwood, Parkway Elementary School, Springville Elementary School and Hartford Upper Elementary School.
With those upgrades, officials say the district would be able to expand its solar energy program, which officials say has generated revenue for the district through the sale of solar renewable energy credits.
As for the timing of holding the referendum vote on Oct. 2, officials point to the 2019–2020 school year when the bonds originally sold to build Springville Elementary School and fund improvement projects at Hartford and Harrington Schools in 2001 will be paid in full.
Knowing those bonds would soon be paid in full, officials say the district’s long-range plan in recent years has been hold back on some of the district’s more pressing capital projects to minimize the impact on taxpayers.
With this upcoming referendum, officials say the district has been approved to receive 40 percent in state construction aid on more than $31 million of the referendum costs, resulting in a return of more than $12 million to the district.
As for the tax impact of the referendum to Mt. Laurel homeowners, district officials said the owner of the average home valued at $237,600 is already scheduled to pay $153.18 for the debt service portion of Mt. Laurel Schools’ budget next year.
However, if voters approve the referendum, combined with the upcoming full payout on current debt service, officials say the amount of school taxes collected to pay for debt service would decrease by approximately $50 the following year, and would continue to decline throughout the life of the bonds.
Those interested in learning more about the referendum can visit the district website at ww.mtlaurelschools.org for a complete list of projects.
The district has also announced that officials will give a complete presentation on the referendum at the Mt. Laurel Schools Board of Education meeting on Sept. 25 at Hartford School at 7 p.m.
Voters can cast their ballot in the Oct. 2 referendum from noon to 8 p.m. at the same polling places they use for general elections, with a list available at the township’s website at www.mountlaurel.com.
