Possible Referendum Projects School District of the Chathams 2014/2015
Purpose of this Presentation 1. To outline projects identified over the past year by the Board of Education as POTENTIAL referendum projects. 2. To provide background regarding WHY these projects have been considered. 3. To more fully discuss and assess the projects.
Note • All projects that follow have been the subject of discussion; no firm decision has yet been made about them, and they are all subject to modification or elimination.
Why Now? • These projects have been discussed for many years. • There are some financial factors that make consideration of a referendum attractive now: ▫ Interest rates are very low. ▫ SDOC enjoys a AAA credit-rating as a result of many years of solid financial practices. ▫ SDOC is in the process of refunding (akin to refinancing) current debt; a savings of $3 million in payments will be realized and annual tax payments will be lowered. ▫ The bond from the 1995 referendum that expanded the Lafayette Avenue School will come to term at the end of this fiscal year.
Potential Project # 1: Renovate the Chatham High School Auditorium • Facility dates to 1976, built for Chatham Township High School. • Facility has not been materially improved in nearly 40 years. • Current seating capacity is +/- 700. • Flooring, seating, wall coverings, stage, etc., are all in rough shape. • Facility is not ADA-compliant; no seating available for persons with disabilities
Duct tape holding seats together
Broken seat replaced with folding chair
Torn acoustical wall covering
Stairs to stage; torn acoustical wall covering; duct tape holding down wiring
Set construction taking place on stage
Storage in and around hallways
CHS Auditorium — Two Options • Option One: Renovate the facility so that is a modern and high-caliber space ▫ Cost = $2.9 million - $3.4 million ▫ Problem = loss of seating capacity due to ADA requirements ▫ Problem = not possible to enlarge the facility ▫ Problem = not possible to gain storage or set space
CHS Auditorium, Aerial View
CHS Auditorium — Two Options • Option Two: Renovate the facility so that it can accommodate curricular program and school assemblies ▫ Cost = $900,ooo
Potential Project # 2: Construct a New Auditorium in the Unused Field at the CMS Circle • Facility could serve as venue for all musical, theatrical and other productions in the district. • Starting with a blank slate provides more options in terms of functions. • A new facility allows space for set construction and storage. • A new facility could be attractive to rent to outside groups.
Chatham Middle School Current Auditorium
Potential Project # 2: Construct a New Auditorium in the Unused Field at the CMS Circle • Cost = $12.5 million
Potential Project # 3: Convert the Current Middle School Auditorium into Instructional and Office Space • Better support the CMS curricular program long term with: ▫ A design and technology/robotics lab ▫ Two computer labs • Create office space so that the Board of Education offices can be housed in the center of the district ▫ Would eliminate the roughly $100,000 per year in rent and utilities currently expended • Create community-oriented space ▫ A flexible space to be used by outside groups
Potential Project # 3: Convert the Current Middle School Auditorium into Instructional and Office Space • Cost = $3.4 million
Potential Project # 4: Upgrade Facilities at Cougar Field • Bleachers are not ADA-compliant nor up to current standards and code. • Parking has never been professionally designed. • Fencing and pavement are aged. • Concessions stand is not up to code and is aged.
Potential Project # 4: Upgrade Facilities at Cougar Field • Cost - $1.4 million
Potential Project # 5: Install New Turf Fields behind the High School • Fields were damaged in original high school expansion construction in 2001-2003. • Fields are not properly graded. • Fields are not as widely usable as those at Cougar or Haas because they are made of natural grass.
Potential Project # 5: Install New Turf Fields behind the High School • Cost = $4.5 million
Five Potential Projects Estimated Preliminary Tax Impact Estimated Per Average Home Projects Borough Township Cost ($661,262) ($762,196) New Auditorium at CMS $12,489,000 $88.67 $99.91 Auditorium Conversion at CMS $3,382,500 $24.02 $27.06 Auditorium Renovation at CHS $910,000 $6.46 $7.28 Turf Fields at CHS $4,530,000 $32.16 $36.24 Cougar Field Renovations $1,429,000 $10.15 $11.43 Sub-total improvements $22,740,500 $161.46 $181.92 **The above figures are preliminary estimates ***The average tax impacts include the savings to be realized from the refunding of the district’s current debt.
Five Potential Projects • The five projects described above do not carry significant operating costs, other than energy and custodial/maintenance services. • These costs would be largely offset by the savings from moving the Board Offices. • Therefore, they represent capital investments to be paid off over 20 years.
Additional Potential Project under Consideration: Expansion of Elementary Schools • 2-classroom addition to WAS • 2-classroom addition to SBS • 4-classroom addition to MAS
Potential Project # 6: Expansion of Elementary Schools • Elementary schools are at maximum capacity now. • There is currently insufficient space to optimally deliver certain programs. • Expanding the facilities will enable us to consider additional programming in the future, such as: ▫ Full-day kindergarten ▫ Additional special education programs
Potential Project # 6: Expansion of Elementary Schools • Cost = $5 million
Six Potential Projects Tax Impact Estimated Per Average Home Projects Borough Township Cost ($661,262) ($762,196) New Auditorium at CMS $12,489,000 $88.67 $99.91 Auditorium Conversion at CMS $3,382,500 $24.02 $27.06 Auditorium Renovation at CHS $910,000 $6.46 $7.28 Turf Fields at CHS $4,530,000 $32.16 $36.24 Cougar Field Renovations $1,429,000 $10.15 $11.43 Sub-total improvements $22,740,500 $161.46 $181.92 MAS Addition (4 classrooms) $2,435,000 $17.29 $19.48 SBS Addition (2 classrooms) $1,484,000 $10.54 $11.87 WAS Addition (2 classrooms) $1,116,000 $7.92 $8.93 Sub-total additions $5,035,000 $35.75 $40.28 Grand Total $27,775,500 $197.21 $222.20 *Figures above represent preliminary estimates
Potential Next Steps • Additional discussion by the Board of Education • Refinement/modification/consideration of projects • If the Board were to move forward: ▫ Additional input from stakeholders ▫ More detailed plans from architect ▫ Plan for community outreach/referendum campaign
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