NORTH ARLINGTON — The school district is asking voters to approve spending $13.3 million to hire additional staff and transform a high school into an elementary and middle school for a growing student population.
Three of the four referendum questions will be presented to voters on the Nov. 5 ballot. Those questions seek approval to raise an additional $3.3 million to fund school hires that include teachers, a guidance counselor and school security officers.
The referendum question will be presented to voters in a special Dec. 10 election that will ask for approval to borrow almost $10 million to fund repairs to the former Queen of Peace High School that will be converted into an elementary and middle school.
If voters approve the November referendums, the average assessed home’s school tax bill will increase by $691.37. If the December referendum passes, it will increase the school tax portion of the bill by $114.22 for the duration of the loan.
November referendums
The November referendums are:
Proposal 1 – The board wants to raise an additional $1,815,990 in taxes to be used to reduce class size, maintain buildings and expand counseling, ESL, world language, art and music. Approval would mean a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy. The average assessed home will see an increase of $379 per year for this proposal if passed.
Proposal 2 – The board wants to raise an additional $709,305 in taxes to provide security personnel in each building during the school day and evening events. Approval would result in a permanent district tax levy increase. The average school property tax bill will see an increase of $149.28 per year if passed.
Proposal 3 – The board wants to raise an additional $780,290 in taxes to establish a full-day pre-K program. Approval would result in a permanent district tax levy increase. The average school property tax bill would increase by $163 if approved.
State law requires capital improvements to be considered in a special election. But staffing concerns may be posed to voters on regularly scheduled November ballots, Superintendent Stephen Yurchack said.
Candidates for Class III officers must be retired police officers under 65 years of age who previously served as a qualified, trained, full-time officer in any municipality or county of in New Jersey, or as a state trooper. The officers must also pass a psychological exam and drug test.
School transformation
The district purchased Queen of Peace from the Newark Archdiocese last month for $6.4 million using reserve funds that previous administrations had established and maintained for capital projects, Yurchack said.
The district has budgeted $3.4 million to bring the school up to state codes.
The former Catholic school is slated to open in September 2020 as the district’s new middle school that will house grades five through eight, Yurchack said.
On Dec. 10 the district will ask taxpayers to approve borrowing almost $10 million for additional repairs to upgrade the new middle school.
Administrators calculated the annual school property tax increase, if voters approve the referendum in December, will be $114.22 per year for a home assessed at the borough average of $343,000.Yurchack said he expects about $3 million in aid from the state over the loan’s 20 year span, though that number is subject to change depending on the schools’ debt service rate.
The school district is comprised of a high school, middle school and three elementary schools.
The current three elementary schools will move to only serving kindergarten to fourth grades and the current middle school will revert to an elementary school, that will also help establish neighborhood zones, Yurchack said.
The need for a new school comes as enrollment increases. As of this September, there are 1,840 students in the district, an increase of 255 over the last 10 years, according to the district’s website.
Schools will be closed the day of the December special election and polls will be open 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., same as on Election Day.
Original source: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2019/10/27/north-arlington-asks-voters-ok-13-3-m-more-staff-upgrades/2450948001/