$22.5M Bond OK Would Secure Future For Shrewsbury School, Board Says

SHREWSBURY, NJ — The Shrewsbury Board of Education is reminding residents to vote on Thursday, Oct. 6, in a bond referendum that, if approved, would fund safety and security upgrades, "critical maintenance" and an addition to Shrewsbury Borough School.

Voter approval also means the state would pay approximately 21 percent of the project costs, bringing back to Shrewsbury money that residents have already paid to the state through taxes. the school district explained in a statement to the public.

The Shrewsbury Borough School District earlier this month hosted several in-person and virtual meetings, including a tour of the school, to learn about projects that would be funded by the Oct. 6 bond referendum.

Now voters will consider one ballot question to provide funding for these projects.

Voter approval of the bond referendum would give the school district a "strong, financially smart path to enhance security, maintain the school’s small class sizes, and expand the school’s pre-Kindergarten program to eliminate the long waitlist and generate revenue for the district," the district said in the news release.

“My husband and I bought our home in Shrewsbury in 2006 and have been proud residents ever since,” said Board of Education President Jessica Groom. “I care deeply about SBS and want to see the children of Shrewsbury thrive in a building that is secure, well-maintained, and has adequate space for them to learn and grow. As a Board of Education, we analyzed multiple options and are confident a bond referendum provides the smartest financial path for preserving and enhancing our school.”

Residents can vote at their regular polling location on Oct. 6 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• The Firehouse, 783 Broad St.

• The Borough Hall, 419 Sycamore Ave.

Visit the state’s polling place search and use your home address to determine your polling location. Those voting by mail must mail their ballot on or before Oct. 6 for it to be counted.

If the bond referendum is approved by the community, the school will be allowed to borrow $22.5 million, with the state covering 21 percent of those project costs, or $4.7 million. This state aid is earmarked for school districts with voter approval, so if Shrewsbury voters don’t approve of the bond referendum, those state tax dollars will go to other schools in New Jersey, the district noted.

For a home assessed at Shrewsbury’s average of $580,785, the net tax impact is estimated to be $44 per month. This is the "net tax impact" because the district will finish paying off debt in 2023 from the last bond referendum and will simultaneously take on new debt if the bond referendum passes. Visit sbs-nj.org/vote for a tax impact calculator and more information.

These funds would be used to pay for:

• Safety and security: Upgrades to windows with ballistic proof glass, new instant-locking classroom doors, securer main office entrances, and new ceilings.
• HVAC and air quality: Upgrades to heating, air conditioning, controls, boilers and electrical systems to provide air-conditioning and temperature control all year round. Most classrooms don’t currently have air-conditioning, and the district has paid over $60,000 in the last five years to repair and service the old boilers.
• A 21,300-square-foot addition.

The addition would include:

• Pre-Kindergarten classrooms: Three new classrooms to expand the early education program, allowing young people on the waiting list to enroll. This would generate over $100,000 in surplus for the school, since pre-K students pay tuition.
• Dedicated lunchroom: A new lunchroom to take the strain off the currently overcrowded “gymnatorium,” especially on rainy days when the space is used for lunch and recess at the same time.
• Multipurpose room: A multipurpose room with a partition to meet the fluid needs of the school.

“None of these projects are cosmetic upgrades or nice-to-have items,” said board member and Chair of the Board’s Facilities and Finance Committee Chris Jannuzzi. “The plan before the community is critical to preserve and enhance this extremely valuable asset to our town.”

The Board of Education encourages every resident to learn about the bond proposal by visiting sbs-nj.org/vote and sending questions to referendum@sbs-nj.org.