By Allison Perrine | aperrine@tworivertimes.com
RED BANK – The Red Bank School District will ask voters to weigh in on a $6.75 million referendum Nov. 5 for top priority upgrades at Red Bank primary and middle schools.
If it is approved, the average homeowner with a home valuation of $366,000 will not see a tax bill increase, according to the district. It will allow for a new roof at Red Bank Primary School and window replacements at Red Bank Middle School, among other health, security and code concerns.
“We put this forward because the work needs to be done,” said school board president Fred Stone. “It’s work that needs to be done fairly soon and it’s best to do it as a package for the economies of scale.”
The district identified $20 million worth of work that could be labeled as a top priority, but scaled it down to the “bare bones” of what must be done immediately, said Jared Rumage, superintendent of schools. Of the $6.75 milion, about $2.13 million will be spent to replace the existing roof at the primary school which Rumage said has deteriorated roof sheathing and issues with the siding, gutters and more. It also calls for HVAC replacement and control upgrades.
Rumage said the work is “absolutely necessary” and that it will need to be done regardless of whether the referendum is approved or not. “If it was your home, it’d be time to replace it,” he said of the proposed upgrades.
The district could receive up to 40 percent of debt service aid from the state if the referendum is approved, Rumage said. If it is rejected it would cost more money in the long run because instead of getting state aid and doing it all in one sweep, the project would need to be piecemealed over the next few years, dragging out construction costs and more, he said.
“I think it makes a lot of sense,” he said. “I think it’s more practical and appropriate and doable in this manner.”
Design work would start in November and is projected to last through March 2020. Construction work would likely occur from June to October of next year.
The district has also mapped out “Priority 2” and “Priority 3” needs for the next several years. The Priority 2 category, planned for the next two to four years, aims to address program needs, comfort and long-term district needs, according to the district. Priority 3, to be addressed five years from now or beyond, would address aesthetics and additional issues outside of the other priorities.
Rumage said he has heard nothing but positive feedback so far and is hoping the results reflect that. “It’s what’s best for our students and our schools,” he said.
School districts in the Two River area have had some ups and downs with referendum votes lately. In September, Fair Haven went out for a $15.6 million referendum that was ultimately approved, while Colts Neck went out for a $25.5 million referendum that was rejected by voters. It was the township’s second failed referendum since 2018. Additionally, the Red Bank Regional school district put up a referendum in December 2018 for $17.3 million that was approved by voters.
Voting will be held Nov. 5 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in District 1 will go to the Hook and Ladder Fire House, 7 Mechanic St.; Districts 2 and 7, Red Bank Middle School, 101 Harding Road; Districts 3 and 4, United Methodist Church, 247 Broad St.; District 5, Red Bank Public Library , 84 West Front St.; District 6, Calvary Baptist Church, 23 River St.; District 8, Red Bank Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth St.; and District 9, Red Bank Housing Authority, 52 Evergreen Terrace.
