CLINTON TOWNSHIP – The North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday to put a $6.5 million bond referendum on November’s election ballot.
The referendum funds necessary facilities upgrades, renovations and repairs at North Hunterdon and Voorhees high schools, with a goal to maintain safe facilities and improve energy efficiency, school district officials said.
"Our high schools date back to the 1950s and 1970s, so it is important that we continue to address our aging facilities and make the necessary upgrades just as a homeowner would," said Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Bender. "With state aid still available for capital projects and the savings we have in our budget, we are able to move ahead with our continued focus on safety and upgrading to more energy-efficient systems."
If approved, the district would receive up to 40% in state aid and combined with budget savings, the projects would not result in a tax increase to residents and can be paid off immediately, according to school district officials.
"The Board has continued to examine the status of our aging facilities and prioritize the areas that are most in need of renovations or upgrades," said Board of Education President Jessica Viotto. "This referendum would continue the Board’s focus on energy efficiency and safety, while staying fiscally responsible to the community as the referendum will not raise taxes."
The proposed work includes HVAC improvements and upgrades at North Hunterdon, where school district officials said the units are beyond their useful life expectancy and would be replaced with high-efficiency equipment providing fresh air ventilation, improved air filtration, heating and cooling for classrooms.
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North Hunterdon would also get new fire-rated interior stair doors, a renovation of the boys locker room and updates to physical education teachers offices and the coaches locker room.
At Voorhees, the plan includes ventilation upgrades to units servicing kitchen, first-floor locker rooms and the rear gymnasium, as well as replacing inefficient pipe insulation.
Voorhees would also see the removal and replacement of concrete and railroad tie steps along the wall of the pedestrian bridge. In addition, the deteriorating wood retaining wall, wood staircase and railings at the soccer and lacrosse field (“The Pit”) would be removed and replaced.
More information is at the district’s website, nhvweb.net/index.php/referendum-2022.