Two Out of Three: Cinnaminson Voters Approve Some School District Improvement Proposals

Cinnaminson voters approved two of the three proposals for improvement projects throughout the school district during Tuesday night’s special election, according to unofficial results posted on the county’s website.

The first question on the ballot dealt with upgrades, improvements and expansions at the high school, the middle school, the Eleanor Rush Intermediate School and the New Albany Elementary School.

It was approved by a vote of 1,956 (66.04 percent) to 1,006 (33.96 percent).

The total cost of this portion of the project is $33,298,157, of which $21,500,857 would be picked up locally. The state will pay for 40 percent, which comes out to $10,743,832. Approval of this question would mean a tax increase of $199.59 per year for 25 years on the average home assessed at $231,795.

This portion calls for new security vestibules at the elementary school and the intermediate school, replacement of the existing fire alarms at the middle school and various renovations at the high school.

The vestibules would be a two-door, locked door system that would prevent visitors from freely roaming the schools. They would only be granted access to the main office for security reasons.

The second question tackled the issue of a new gymnasium at the high school, which would seat 1,000 people.

Currently, some parents and spectators are not permitted in to some events because it would create a fire hazard.

It was approved by a vote of 1,676 (57.18 percent) to 1,255 (42.82 percent).

This portion of the project would cost $6,750,125, with the full cost being picked up locally. This would mean an additional tax increase of $62.49 a year for 25 years on the average home assessed at $231,795.

The question that was defeated concerned the addition of six tennis courts at the high school for a total of $750,000, with the full cost being picked up locally. This would mean another tax increase of $6.91 a year for 25 years on the average home assessed at $231,795.

It was defeated by a vote of 1,520 (52.04 percent) to 1,401 (47.96 percent).