Everything You Need To Know About Ramsey School Referendum

RAMSEY, NJ — In less than two weeks, residents will vote on a sweeping $42.9 million plan that would reshape the district.

The multifaceted bond referendum, would, if approved, pave the way for full-day kindergarten to the last school district in Bergen County not to have it.

Here is everything you need to know about the project and its potential impact on taxpayers and the school district.

What Will It Cost Taxpayers?

Of the $49.2 million, taxpayers would be responsible for $32.5 million.

The estimated tax impact would be about $288 annually for the average homeowner. The average home in Ramsey is worth about $523,000. The bond would be paid off in 2024.

The remaining $10.4 million would be in debt service to the state.

The funding includes $5.8 million to renovate two elementary schools, Tisdale and Hubbard, in order to bring all-day kindergarten to the district.

Security

Visitor vestibules at Tisdale, Hubbard, Dater, and Smith schools would be installed. Video cameras linked to local police would go in every school. Door locks would be upgraded and safety film applied to every first floor window and door.

Fine Arts

A performance arts wing would be created at the high school, including new band, chorus, and practice rooms and instructional rooms.

The high school does not have adequate space to properly instruct students. More than 60 students meet and rehearse in the Lecture Hall, which was not designed for music instruction.

The marching band has to cram into the auditorium for rehearsals and there are no small student practice rooms.

The high school locker rooms would be renovated and new whiteboards installed. Physical education classes would use the locker rooms.

The Computer Assisted Drawing Room and Wood Shop would be repaired and redesigned.

High School Fitness and Media Centers

A "state-of-the-art" fitness center would be built to help students compete "at high levels and provide a service to the local community."

"Body and fitness improvements have proven to contribute to a student's confidence and self-esteem," district officials said. "Competitors created fitness centers for their students more than 10 years ago. Ramsey drastically lags behind other schools, both public and nonpublic, in this area."

A multi-purpose media center and learning commons would be built at the high school, giving students more space to create radio-style morning announcements, the yearbook, and the school newspaper.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math rooms would be renovated.

"Many of our science classrooms haven't been renovated since the 1970s," said Superintendent Matthew Murphy.

Smith School

The STEM room would be modernized and updated. STEM classes are held in a former wood shop. Updates would include a new design lab and 3-D printing area.

New music classrooms would be built, including band and chorus rooms and spaces for technology-based classes, and practice rooms.

Full-Day Kindergarten

A second referendum question is scheduled to go to voters in November 2019 to approve funding for the full-day kindergarten program. Ramsey is the only Bergen County school district with half-day kindergarten.

For more information about the bond referendum and proposed projects, click here.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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