Haddon Township school district proposes $30.5M improvement plan. What's in it?
HADDON TWP. — The school district wants voter approval for a $30.5 million project to upgrade its facilities, with most of the work targeting Haddon Township High School.
Among other changes, the proposal calls for expanding the media center, updating vocational education facilities and creating a counseling center for Rohrer Middle School students.
Infrastructure work would target chronic problems with flooding, and would address energy efficiency, ventilation systems and maintenance needs at the high school, which was built in 1964.
The project also would upgrade the high school’s stadium — replacing the grass football field with artificial turf, for instance, adding lights, and improving bleachers and restrooms.
But there would be a cost.
If voters approve a bond to finance the project, property taxes would rise by $263 annually for an average home assessed at $231,245.
March 12 referendum: Palmyra school project would upgrade facilities, increase property tax
In-person voting will take place March 12 from noon to 8 p.m. Check your sample ballot for poll locations.
Haddon Township school referendum coming soon
“In order to make vast improvements, which we need, we have to have a referendum,” school board member John Kendall says in one of several videos promoting the project at the district’s website.
That video shows gloomy images of leaking roofs, water-stained floors and dilapidated facilities before ending with brightly lit scenes of happy students, upbeat music and a pitch for voter approval.
According to its website, the district wants to spend $13.8 million on “educational enhancement” and $8.7 million for "athletics/community." It would devote $8 million to infrastructure and safety.
Ten percent, or $3 million, would go to the district’s five elementary schools, including floor replacements for their all-purpose rooms.
That spending would range from $211,000 at Stoy Elementary to $1.2 million at Van Sciver Elementary.
State aid would cover about 40 percent of eligible costs, or around $9.3 million.
The district notes state aid isn’t available for work “not directly related to an instructional program.” That includes changes to the stadium and renovations to the high school’s lobby and locker rooms.
“I think our community’s well aware of the need,” says Superintendent Robert Fisicaro, noting a three-year process to develop “a shared vision” of desired changes.
“We planned this not for our community, but with our community,” he said.
The district last held a referendum in 2014, when voters approved a $40 million project to upgrade infrastructure and make other improvements.
Here’s a look at some proposed changes and their costs:
$4.8M: Expand and improve the media center; create a middle school counseling center
$3.2M: Renovated auto shop and adjacent spaces to provide “21st Century vocational education” facilities
$2.5M: All-sports turf field
$2.2M: Upgrade bleachers, concession area and restrooms in stadium
$1.9M: New roofs on the middle school and the auditorium stage.
$1.9M: Install an ADA-accessible ramp and walkways to and around Lower Recchino Fields; also address water problems at the fields
$1.4M: Reconstruct “crumbling” tennis courts to provide eight surfaces suitable for tennis and pickleball
$1.1M: Upgrade auditorium lobby, including new bathrooms
$414,000: Remove a sharp turn that endangers motorists and pedestrians at the high school’s Memorial Avenue entrance
$198,400: Create outside classroom and amphitheater in high school courtyard.
Two information sessions will be held March 4 — at 10:30 a.m. in the Rohrer Library on McArthur Boulevard and at 6:30 p.m. at Edison Elementary School, 205 Melrose Ave.
A March 7 session will be held at 6 p.m. at Van Sciver Elementary School, 625 Rhoads Ave.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: In-person voting on March 12 for $30M improvement package
