State Grants Would Cover 57 Percent of the Cost of Projects Related to Greater Egg School District's Referendum

A week from today, voters will go to the polls vote on referendums for renovation projects in the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District, and district officials want the voters to know that approximately 57 percent of the $26.5 million cost for proposals related to its referendum will be covered by state grant funding.

That equates to about $15,132,877.

Therefore, the cost to taxpayers for the Greater Egg Harbor projects will be approximately $11.4 million, but the state grant funding will no longer be available to the school district after February.

The annual tax increase for both Galloway Township and Hamilton Township would be $20 a year, at a rate of $1.67 a month for homes assessed at $100,000.

In Egg Harbor City, the annual increase would be $21 a year, with a monthly increase of $1.75, and in Mullica Township, the increase would be $39 a year at $3.25 a month, all for homes assessed at $100,000.

The referendum goes before the voters on Dec. 13.

The state grant has been conditionally awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education to the district for the projects included in the referendum. District voters must pass the referendum, making it possible for the district to fund its share of the project in order for the grant money to be officially awarded to the district.

The referendum includes work for both and Oakcrest high schools. The district also includes Cedar Creek High School, which opened in 2010.

There are two proposals associated with the referendum. The first proposal includes partial roof replacement, fire alarm replacement and replacement of heating/air conditioning and ventilation units at Absegami High School, as well as complete roof replacement and fire alarm replacement at Oakcrest.

The second proposal calls for replacement of heating and ventilation units and the addition of air conditioning for classrooms at Oakcrest.

On Monday night, Dec. 5, Greater Egg Harbor Superintendent Steven Ciccariello said he expects work would likely begin next summer, after the project goes out to bid, assuming the referendum passes. He added there would likely be disruption during the school year, but the district would work to ensure the disruption was as little as possible.

According to the district, the projects are essential because the buildings are aging. Oakcrest’s current roof was installed in 1990 as a replacement for the original roof the building had when it opened in 1960. That roof now needs to be replaced due to severe leaking.

Fire alarm systems at both Absegami and Oakcrest must be replaced and upgraded to comply with current health and life safety codes. Air handling units at both schools are at least 10 years beyond their useful life, according to the district, which added that new, more energy-efficient units will lower operating and maintenance costs and improve air quality in the buildings.

Air conditioning will be installed in Oakcrest’s classrooms in order to improve learning environments, the district stated.

"We did all the repairs we could," Ciccariello said. "There comes a point where you can't do repairs anymore and it just have to be replaced."

In Galloway Township, voting hours will be from 7 a.m.-9 p.m., to coincide with the Galloway Township School District referendum. That referendum concerns the replacement of roofs and fire alarms, and renovations of a drainage system and a parking lot at the district’s four elementary schools.

The two referendums will not be on the same ballot, as the Galloway School District wants to avoid any confusion of the two measures.

For further information on the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District’s referendum, call the Referendum Hotline at 609-625-0657, ext. 2732 or email referendum 2011@geh.nj.k12us.com.

For further information on the Galloway Township School District’s referendum, click