60 community members emailed to join, 49 RSVP’d able to attend

Goals and agenda for tonight

Goals.

• Historical timeline
• January referendum and tax impact
• Address community feedback
• Group breakout sessions
• Answer your questions

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Agenda.

• Create working group to address future enrollment growth
• Answer questions related to the upcoming January referendum

• Two questions:
• Q1: Purchase La Grande and for ALL schools upgrade HVAC, electrical, fire alarms
• Q2: Staffing for La Grande School
• All pre-kindergarten would move, freeing up space in the elementary schools.
• La Grande is secured by the district as a future asset should the district’s enrollment continue to increase as predicted and the need arise for a complete renovation and expansion in the future.
• Students would remain in their current schools for the foreseeable future.

Why are we here?

Referendum: January 28, 2025.

You asked. We listened.

District Action.

Community Feedback.

• Create planning group open to all
• No contingent questions
• The cost is too high
• No redistricting
• More local communication groups
• Include staffing tax increase at the same time
• Provide relevant documents
• I did not receive a mailing
• The town hall format was not efficient
• Sept vote - Approved HVAC, Electrical, Fire Alarms

• Tonight’s meeting
• Contingent question eliminated
• Cost reduced by more than half
• Students will remain in their schools
• Dedicated school communication groups
• Staffing question included in January vote
• Website to include relevant documents
• A second mailer to be sent to community
• Future town halls will be open mic
• HVAC, Electrical, and Fire Alarms included

2022 Strategic Plan set a goal to maintain and upgrade our facilities to provide innovative spaces that prepare students for the future.

2022 District explored leasing modular classroom units to ease space crunch.

2023 Architects did a top-to-bottom review and interviewed students, teachers, staff, and administrators to determine the district’s most pressing needs.

2023 Architects provided cost estimates and limitations for adding to current schools and conducted due diligence investigation of 330 South Ave.

2023 Community survey and focus groups showed support for managing class sizes by purchasing or renovating a property and HVAC upgrades.

2024 Referendum provides community with option to purchase, renovate, and expand 330 South Ave. and improve HVAC, electrical, and fire alarm systems in the schools.

How did we reach this point?

March 2023 Hired Parette Somjen Architects

April 2023 Hired real estate agent; La Grande offered for sale

May 2023 Analyzed addition for McGinn

Summer 2023 Investigated potential purchase of La Grande; reviewed current school layouts and environmental limitations

Sept. 2023 Interviewed staff at all schools

Oct. 2023 Hired LBC, a communications firm that specializes in bond referenda. Compiled results of school interviews

Nov. 2023 Community survey and focus groups showed support for managing class sizes by purchasing/renovating a property and HVAC upgrades

Dec. 2023 Decision made to acquire La Grande

Jan. 2024 Option agreement executed

Feb. 2024 Presented to Fanwood Planning Board presentation and created compliance documents

March 2024 Submitted application to NJ DOE

Sept. 2024 Six classrooms, one small group instruction room, and one OT/PT room created at Evergreen

Timeline: A Closer Look

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• Common Spaces:
• Two PE teachers for one gym at McGinn
• No dedicated music rooms in 3 out of 5 schools
• Only one dedicated Spanish room
• Lunch periods are at a maximum
• Equity among Buildings
• Evergreen currently has more space than other buildings
• School One - same size has 25 students to a class in 3rd and 4th
• New Entrants to SPF

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Alternative Learning Spaces:

• Sensory rooms
• STEAM rooms

How do we operate currently?

McGinn: Four classroom addition

• Cost $4.5M - $5.5M, or about $1.25M per classroom

Redistricting: Moving students to a much larger elementary school that would be constructed

• Option could provide some operational cost savings vs adding to all schools/LaGrande
• Example: Make McGinn/Evergreen hold 900 students or more; current enrollment is ~525

• Construction at multiple locations is less efficient, more costly and would require temporary trailers
• Learning environment challenges as construction would continue year round
• Site limitations: parking, drop-off lanes, and flood hazard areas
• Common spaces could not handle additional capacity
• Additional gym, cafeteria, media center, and playground space needed
• Minimal recurring cost savings: Larger elementary schools would require additional administrative staff

Options Considered

Additions at other schools.

330 South Ave., Fanwood

• 3.88 acres with a 35,000-square-foot building
• District owned in 1985; Sold it due to declining enrollment trends, which has since reversed
• Adding an early childhood learning hub will increase available space at elementary schools
• LaGrande purchase at a cost of $1M per classroom (includes estimated renovation cost)
• Cost savings - move administrative staff to third floor

La Grande School.

Option Selected

• Purchase La Grande but no funds to fully renovate or expand it. The district’s Capital Reserve, which is an account earmarked for capital improvements that do not fit within the regular operating budget, could cover costs of minor renovations.
• La Grande could serve as an Early Learning Center for pre-kindergarten students.
• HVAC, electrical, and fire alarm upgrades that voters supported in the September referendum.

First ballot question: 30 year bond.

Referendum Question

$44.6 million in improvements / State aid to cover $11.4 million toward the costs

• Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to the auto shop and woodshop
• Nettingham Middle School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to the auditorium, gym, cafeteria, and multipurpose room
• Terrill Middle School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to art, art office, choir room, choir support room, gym, boys locker room, girls locker room, tech room, and tech office
• Replacement of select unit ventilators

HVAC, electrical systems, and fire alarms

• School One Elementary School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
• Brunner Elementary School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to nurse’s suite
• Replacement of select unit ventilators
• Coles Elementary School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades
• Replacement of select unit ventilators

HVAC, electrical systems, and fire alarms

• Evergreen Elementary School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades in a small group instruction space
• Replacement of select unit ventilators
• McGinn Elementary School
• Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades in nurse’s suite
• Replacement of select unit ventilators

HVAC, electrical systems, and fire alarms

• Total operating costs are $3.3M which includes existing and new costs.
• New operating costs include salaries and benefits to hire a new: administrator, nurse, secretary, custodial staff, security officer, and utilities.
• Full budget will be posted on the website.
• If the budget vote passes, residents will see a permanent tax increase of 1.14%.

Second ballot question:.

Budget Vote

.La Grande Early Learning Center.

Bond referendum & budget vote:.

Combined Tax Impact

Note: Based on average assessment

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Breakout groups

• How does this proposal address district needs?
• What additional questions do you have?
• What recommendations do you have?
• How can we educate the community about this proposal?

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Help us! In your assigned group, please. .discuss the following:.

Questions? Thoughts?

We want to.

hear from you!.

SPREAD THE WORD

spfk12.org/future.

@SPFProud

@SPF_Proud

future@spfk12.org