Plumsted will ask voters for school upgrades $18.5 million plan calls for construction of primary facility

Plumsted will
ask voters for
school upgrades
$18.5 million plan calls for
construction of primary facility

The Plumsted Board of Education will ask residents to approve an $18.5 million construction plan that will pay for upgrades to township schools.

Residents will vote on the plan March 12.

Board members approved estimates for the planned improvements at a recent meeting.

According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gerald Woehr, the referendum is needed for two reasons.

"The state has required our district to complete a very detailed long-range facility plan," Woehr said. "When you submit the plan, you are committed to making the repairs, additions and expansions that are listed."

Additionally, Woehr said state funding that will cover a portion of the construction costs is available to the district now and may not be if the referendum is put off.

"There is a timeline to the state funding," the superintendent said. "If we wait, or if the referendum is not approved on March 12, it is possible that the state money may not be there" the next time the referendum is placed before the public.

Through the state Department of Education’s Division of Facilities and Transportation, the district expects to receive $6.8 million in state aid, although confirmation as to the availability of that funding has not yet been received.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $18.5 million. According to Woehr, $6.8 million will be paid by the state. The board has set aside $3 million in a capital reserve account. Voters will be asked to approve an $8.7 million taxpayer expenditure on March 12.

If the referendum passes, taxpayers would see an increase of about $240 per year on a house assessed at $150,000 over the life of the bonds that will be issued to pay for the work.

The proposal includes the construction of a primary school which will house a preschool for special education students, a full-day kindergarten program and first grade classrooms.

The New Egypt Elementary School will become a grades two through five school and will undergo a number of improvements which Woehr called health and safety issues. Expected improvements include a new roof, a new boiler, the addition of an elevator, new windows and new doors. Air quality issues in the school will also be addressed.

The elementary school was built in 1928 and renovated in 1952, 1954, 1965, 1987 and 2000.

While there will be no changes to the middle school, it is planned that New Egypt High School will receive an additional science lab, three classrooms and the expansion of the gymnasium.

District administrators will pose one question to voters for all of the improvements. Residents will not be allowed to vote on each issue separately.

Woehr said he is confident Plumsted residents understand the need for the referendum and believes it will pass.

"We have had referendums in 1992 and 1997 in which 80 percent of the residents voted yes," the superintendent said. "I think residents understand that in order for us to maintain our educational standards, these improvements are necessary."

Woehr said the Plumsted school district has been recognized for student achievement and for maintaining low per pupil expenditures.

"I have confidence that residents will support us on this project," he said.

If the referendum passes, school officials are projecting work to begin in June and finish in September 2003.