Fantastic. Good evening everyone. Can you hear me? >> Is this on? >> Yeah. >> Okay, perfect. Okay, if we could all stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. Melissa, could you call the RO please? Mr. Andre,
Miss Crystal, Miss Giovani, Miss Calderon, Mr. Sher, Mr. Mr. Toast, Miss Notice of the May 11th, 2026 meeting of the board of education was emailed to
the clerks of the burrows of Essex, North Caldwell and Roseand and to the township of Fairfield and the editor of the progress on January 8th, 2026 and the Star Ledger on the same day. Welcome everyone. Just want to say thank you for
attending our um board meeting this evening. This evening will provide an overview of the proposed scope of work for the referendum we have planned for November. To support this process, we established an ad hoc committee consisting of four board members, one
from each town. Deb Calderon who is our chairperson um and from Roseland, John Toth from Mesics Fels, Ray Stampone, who's not here from Rosland, and myself. Oh, Ray's from Yes, I'm sorry. Ray is from Fairfield. Um the purpose of this
committee was to carefully review, discuss and provide guidance on the proposed projects and overall planning process. The ad hoc committee works closely with the administration and our professional partners and the entire board. We also established a community
referendum committee. Um we just recently um put that committee together and we will be meeting with them soon. Tonight we have our administrative team here, staff members, mayors, police chiefs, our professional team, and we want to thank them for their support in helping us evaluate the needs of our
district. So, just to provide a little background, West Essex High School was originally completed in 1961 and the middle school was completed in the early 70s. I mentioned this um because while our buildings have proudly served generations of students and
families, many now require modern modernization and some upgrades and um infrastructure and safety and um accessibility. Uh educational needs have evolved significantly since the buildings were first constructed and our district's
goal is to p um to um preserve the strength and character of these buildings while ensuring they continue to meet the needs of our current students and the students of our future. Our buildings and grounds department um have done a phenomenal job um
maintaining and renovating our buildings and our facilities over the years and their hard work has helped us to extend the life of these buildings. However, larger scale improvements are now necessary to address the aging infrastructures needed to um you know
provide evolving educational demands of today's students. So tonight's presentation is an important step in the planning um process for the school and the future of our district. We appreciate everyone's interest, input, and participation and we look forward to
continuing this collaboratively uh with our community um through the process. So following the presentation which will be given by Mr. Machochi and Mrs. Kea um we will open up the floor for public comments. Uh we will do our best to answer all your questions or your
comments to the best of our ability and if we do not have an immediate answer for you we will make sure to follow up and provide that information. So at this time before I turn it over to Mr. Machoi and Miss Kea. Um we have one board committee report that we want to um
present and then we will move on to the presentation. Okay. Quickly we have an update on the dual um enrollment. We've partnered with Monontlair State and West Essex students are getting early college credit for a level two journalism class as well as
access to the campus. We've had um an updated summer reading list from the English department with the goals to build reading stamina, critical thinking skills, and um multitude of different levels reading. Sorry, my document got
funny on me. I don't know. I'm okay, guys. Sorry. You want to go quicker at last? Sorry. Okay. We have um update from the program um of studies
changes their medical middle school students demonstrate a need for growth in ELA or math bas based on NJSLA. They'll take foundations classes and students will be in two math or two LEA. The enrollment of these classes will be assessed and monitored throughout the
year so there can be um adjustments made. Students need to get a four or five on their NJSLA to be eligible for a waiver to get into AP courses or they can get in through teacher recommendation. And there are two new AP courses, AP Spanish and AP economics. I
Ready and summer enrichment. There are all three diagnostics are complete for I Ready and the summer enrichment program has 140 students signed up. the Atlas online curriculum database that connects our curriculum to the standards um
identifies where there are duplications in standards um or where they're achieved or standards are missing is on its way to being rolled out 2026 27 where the teachers will be continuing to enter their curricular data for next
year and um the last piece is just that the Chinese class um the Chinese langu language class. We've seen a decrease in enrollment and so the administration is just watching that enrollment to sure students needs are being met.
Thank you, Ruth. Okay, at this time we will move on to our referendum presentation. If the board members want to sit in the front, Okay, good evening everyone. My name is Damen Machoi. I'm the superintendent of schools. Uh, thank you for taking the time to join us tonight for this
important presentation and for your continued interest in the future of our schools. We truly appreciate your presence and your partnership as we continue working together on behalf of our students. To our parents, staff, community
members, local officials, members of law enforcement, and the leadership from each of our four towns, I truly thank you for being here this evening. Your presence reflects something truly special about this district. While we come from four municipalities, we are
always we and we are and always have been one unified community. Um I just want to recognize here uh we have reps from our police departments. Uh Chief Man is here from Fairfield. We have a representative from the Rosand Police Department. Mayor Galiss uh from
Fairfield is here. And I know Mayor Raymond is here from North Cwell as well. So, I just want to thank you guys for coming out tonight. I also want to recognize our faculty, staff, and administration that are here this evening. Many of them are seated in the audience. Your dedication,
professionalism, and commitment to our students are among the greatest strengths of our district, and we are truly grateful for all that you do. Before we continue, I also uh like to take a moment to acknowledge someone whose impact in this district is truly
immeasurable. And that's Miss Barbara Longo, former superintendent of schools, longtime West Essex employee, and proud Fairfield resident. I honestly do not know anyone who has given more of herself to this school district or has done more to help this
district thrive for so many years. It's an honor to introduce her this evening and we sincerely thank her for being here for this important meeting tonight. Tonight we meaning myself uh Miss Kea who's our assistant business uh m
assistant business administrator assistant superintendent for business and the board stand before you not not as individuals but as a collective team that has spent years working together on behalf of this community and its students.
We are proud to serve a district defined by stability, strong relationships, and a shared commitment to educational excellence. Together, we have worked thoughtfully and collaboratively to ensure that every decision we make reflects both the immediate needs of our
students and the long-term future of our district. It's my honor to stand here tonight in my 18th year serving this district and my seventh year as the superintendent of schools. Over the years, I've had the privilege of growing alongside this
community in witnessing firsthand the pride, support, and commitment that define our schools. This evening, I'm also proud to present alongside Miss Kea. Miss Kea has served this district for many years, always with a strong focus on supporting students and
strengthening our schools. Her diligent budgeting, careful financial planning, and fiscally responsible approach have helped position this district well over time. The work you will hear tonight reflects not only educational priorities, but also thoughtful
management of district resources that she has consistently demonstrated throughout her career. Together, we are fully invested, not just professionally, but personally, in the success of our district and most importantly, our students. With that being said, tonight's
presentation is more than a referendum. It's about who we are as a community, what we value, and how we plan for the future. Our schools have a proud tradition of excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and in fostering a safe and inclusive environment where
every student can thrive. Maintaining that standard requires thoughtful planning, responsible decision-making, and a shared vision. Before I go further, I also want to recognize the continued commitment of our board of education. Their leadership, guidance, and long-standing
service to this district have provided a strong and consistent foundation. Many of our board members have dedicated years, often decades of service, and that longevity brings a level of stability and institutional knowledge
that benefits our entire community. We are committed to transparency throughout this process. Our goal is simple, to ensure that every member of our community is informed, engaged, and prepared to make a thoughtful decision this November. Thank you again for being
here for your partnership and your continued support. Okay, here we go. West Essex Regional is a high achieving school district that values providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments that foster learning for all in a fiscally
responsible and prudent manner. As Miss Wajowitz said, our buildings are well-maintained, but the district's aging facilities, some dating back to the originals 1960 construction, require significant upgrades that are beyond routine
maintenance and outside the annual operating budget. The board balances its mission to provide safe, functional, and effective learning environments with its responsibility to tax taxpayers. Identifying funding streams beyond the
annual budget is an ideal way to achieve these goals. A referendum is a special election in which voters are asked to approve borrowing money through bonds to fund large-scale school improvements with state aid, helping to reduce a portion of the project costs. The
district has been planning this for years, working with professionals to determine the priorities. Okay, quick overview of the district. Um, we are a regional district serving approximately 1,700 students, grades 7
through 12. Our students come from Essex, Fels, Fairfield, North Cwell, and Rosland. And we employ approximately 250 staff me members. many of them who reside in our sending districts.
It's not a secret our students are high achievers. They strive for excellence and our goal is to offer a variety of programs that can prepare them for the future. West Essex High School in recent publications has ranked 34 out of 350
high schools in New Jersey. We've expanded our advanced placement course to 27 courses. I believe we're going up to 28 next year. 45 seniors have earned the seal of biiteracy. And consistently, we're placing our
students in top colleges and universities year after year, including Ivy League schools. Our district ranks among the top 3% of the nation. We're ranked number two as the best
place to teach in New Jersey. Top 8% of the best school districts in New Jersey. We ranked number one in Essex County as best place to teach. And we're in the top 1% in the nation for the best teachers.
Kudos to our staff. Our district provide uh values providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Our dedicated staff members provide students with rigorous
academic courses, supportive student services, and a broad range of extracurricular activities. There really is something for everyone at West Essex. We're very proud uh to have been designated as no place for hate schools for three years in a row. I want to
thank our staff, students, and community for being invested in that. We've been recognized for 12 consecutive years as one of the best communities for music education. We've made a strong investment in professional development specifically in the area of our artificial intelligence
and uh with the implementation of different curriculum tools. And we've expanded programs such as our gifted and talented program, our character ed program, and our we thrive program. From arts programs to athletics, West Essex earns top honors across the board.
State and division championships, coaches of the year, high ranking student athletes, athletes that go on to play at the secondary level or college level. Just a couple highlights. Uh we were ranked as the number one school in Essex County for athletics.
um state championship this year for field hockey, including a nationally ranked field hockey team. Uh wide ranging success across multiple sports programs. We have approximately 27 or 28 varsity sports, and we have a full middle school program with nine athletic
programs, a thriving arts program, performances, and cultural celebrations. Our district takes a proactive approach to maintenance. 10% of our annual budget is dedicated to maintenance.
This approach allows us to focus on good stewardship of tax dollars because we fix and replace things before they break down and end up end up it could end up costing more in the long run. So with emergency repairs, they're much more expensive than regular maintenance just like in your home. We have a talented
maintenance staff here in district which is a cost savings when repairs are needed. Over the past 12 years, we have prioritized items and made replacements and repairs through the annual budget or when necessary taken money from capital reserve to complete projects. This
strategy is fiscally responsible because it keeps tax increases to a minimum and keeps our budget focused where it should be on programming that benefits our students and overall community. The next three slides shows the projects we have completed to improve our schools with no
additional cost to taxpayers. I just want to point out this one speaks to the high school projects we've completed in the past 12 years. As some of you may know, we renovated the band room, added a STEM room and two culinary arts rooms this past year. We renovated this
auditorium space during COVID. We finished and we did a major boiler replacement. Out of that $12.4 million we spent in the past 12 years, 5.6 million went to the high school. The West Sussex Middle School had an
electric upgrade and new emergency generator. All classroom HVAC units were replaced. We used our in-house staff to do that project. We renovated the lower level team rooms, lower level locker rooms. We did a restroom renovation, a
partial roof replacement, and a sidewalk replacement. Of that 122.4 million, that was 2.7 million for districtwide projects. Excuse me. We did a new phone and lock down system. We did a track replacement. We did parking
lot paving. We just did that this year. We will complete that this summer. Classroom renovations completed by in-house staff members. Tennis court replacement, which will be done the summer of 2026, and birectional antennas and cellular antennas, which we will
also do in summer of 2026. Um, each year the district renovates at least five classrooms during the summer using our in-house maintenance staff. These projects are prioritized based on the age and condition of each space. This summer we're hoping to finish a 700 wing. I know. Um, it is also important
to note that it took 12 years to accomplish 12.4 million worth of projects through the annual budget and capital reserve. A referendum would give a large sum upfront with the help of state aid toward eligible project costs.
Why a bond referendum? There are three main reasons. Voter approval gives state aid toward eligible project costs. Please note that every taxpayer in New Jersey contributes to the fund that pays for school improvements. Districts with
voter approved referendums can utilize these funds. That means that other schools across the district are using our tax dollars to improve their schools. Projects can be completed in a few years with upfront funding. As you just heard, it took us 12 years to
complete 12.4 million worth of projects. Costs are spread over time across all taxpayers for as long as they own the property. That means if you sell your home, the new homeowner who is using our community assets, like the school, will take over responsibility for that
payment as part of their property taxes. The timeline for a referendum is long and started years ago back in 2019 with planning. Once we identified priority projects, we worked with an architect to put together applications to be reviewed by the New Jersey Department of
Education. Those applications were sent on February 19th, 2026, and review can take up to five months. When review is complete, we will learn the state aid that we are eligible to receive, but that state aid can only come to us with voter approval. We won't know the
estimated tax impact until we hear back from the state. I believe in this issue. Okay, I'll do it. >> Okay, so there are two ballot questions on our anticipated vote date of November 3rd, 2026. The total question one is 42
million. The total of question two is 7.5 million for a total of 49.5 million. Right now, these are the project cost estimates we submitted to the Department of Education. The questions contain projects that are all equally important, but we want to give the community a
choice in their investment. Question two can only pass if voters also approve question one. Each project has a different amount of eligible project costs. In other words, not all projects qualify for the same amount of state aid. Every project in this referendum
addresses a need, educational impact, functionality, safety, and long-term planning considerations. Okay, so let's go over the qu uh question one project breakdown. Okay, the cost uh breakdowns for these projects. They're all colorcoded.
The highest percentage of costs go toward the twotory edition and media center renovation at the high school and the auditorium renovation at the middle school. Infrastructure improvements include walls and windows at the high school which are sinking and causing gaps that
allow cold and hot air to get into the school. The category uh the next category includes selected classroom HVAC units at the high school and rooftop units at the middle school that would serve both gymnasiums. We have two gymnasiums at
the middle school and the auditorium and also the cafeteria at the middle school. Removal of the concrete trellis at the middle school is included in this category. That trellis does not serve any functional purpose and would cost a
lot of money to repair after the many years of being exposed to the outdoor elements. Rem removal is recommended and it's the most cost-effective solution. The third category is field renovations and we'll talk about that later in the
slides. And the final category is sec which is security enhancements are the smallest portion of this question and again we'll get more into the security piece later tonight. Okay, here is a look at the current footprint where uh the addition would be
located. So right here on the left side of the photo, this is actually behind the high school. Okay. This uh wall right here is the wall, one of the exterior walls to the uh current media center. This area
here is just an open grass area behind the high school. Kind of in this front area here is a fire is the fire road that runs behind the building. This is the 500 wing hallway. And over here is um one of our classrooms. And then another section over here is our child
study team. Okay. Um in the high school, um we have approximately 63 total classrooms. Out of out of 43 regular classrooms, 23
of them are currently shared spaces used by two or more teachers, resulting in 37 teachers right now in the high school that are currently sharing classrooms. The remaining 20 classrooms in the building are very specific to subject areas such as the culinary uh arts room,
the wood shop, the gymnasiums, the STEM lab, we connect, we thrive and our chemistry labs. So classroom availability is really important and that drives how we build a master schedule. The more classrooms that are available period by period, the more sections that we can offer for classes.
So it's definitely a big factor in um what we can offer for for our students. And this is the area here where we are proposing that new two-story edition to go. Okay. First and foremost, by adding an addition, we are not
required to hire any additional teachers. This is purely for the current conditions that we're under right now. The goal is simply to provide our existing teaching staff with dedicated classroom space. Programs and departments would gain
permanent dedicated spaces either in the addi in the addition or in the main building. Students would have access to safe, quiet spaces for study halls and independent work. Additional classrooms would support small groupoup instruction for students needing extra support or
enrichment. More space would allow for inschool restorative practices and student support services. The addition would provide the required space needed for standardized testing. as when you run standardized testing. If you know you need multiple locations uh
throughout the building, especially uh to be able to provide uh to small group, large group, and the students with accommodations, the growing we thrive tuitionbased program, which is in our first year at West Essex High School. Um
that that program would uh require additional space and additional classrooms would allow us to continue serving that program which is growing. Okay. So, let's get into the first floor floor plan.
Okay. So, everything's colorcoded here. So, um if you look here where the laser is, okay, this is our current media center. Okay. Um and then all the areas in this reddish color are the proposed five new
classrooms. You have two, three, four, and five. Okay. The blue area is a small group instruction space, which is right here. And then on either side of the addition, you have um an elevator and stairs.
Okay. So, the first floor would come with a renovated media center, five new classrooms, a journalism lab, which is kind of like a classroom and a half, and that's this space right here. Um, like I mentioned, the small group instruction room and then the elevators
and stairs to get to the second floor. Part of this addition would involve us taking some of the current media center, which will um end up going into that journalism lab and classroom. And we'll we'll uh be able to show you that in the
next slide as well. Okay. When we get to the second floor, the second floor would provide us and it's all colorcoded, seven new classrooms which are in red. Uh one small group instruction uh room which is in in the blue here.
And then again um elevator and access to the stairs, you know, down to the first floor. So you have your um seven new classrooms all in red and then you have your small group instruction and then your elevator and stairs in yellow.
Okay, these next two slides have renderings that represent what the space could look like in the corridor part of each addition, which would have a collaborative usable space for students. Um, this slide uh up here right now is a view from you
entering uh this corridor as you're coming in from the main part of the high school right now. So this is this is a big open area that um has open space seating for students and then these windows right here are part of that new journalism lab.
This is the same corridor. This is just a view from the opposite side um from the back corridor looking towards the entrance that takes you into the main uh main building of the high school. Okay, we're proposing a a new journalism lab um in the high school. The current
journalism lab is limited in size and it was originally actually originally developed to be a computer lab. Not it's not a modern media production space. A newly modernized uh journalism lab would provide students with a collaborative environment designed for writing,
editing, broadcasting, and digital media production. The space is heavily you utilized during media day where students take the lead in planning, producing and running media activities for their peers, building leadership and communication skills.
Students produce both print and digital editions of the school newspaper, gaining authentic hands-on experience in journalism, multimedia storytelling, editing, photography, and publication design. So, an updated journalism lab would better support creativity, student
voice, and realworld career career readiness in media and communications fields. The next two slides provide renderings that represent what the space could look like. More space to work and collaborate
to provide students with that real uh newsroom feel. So, you can see we have an open area here. These are the windows that um go into the main hallway um in that corridor. Um big open space
here for our students. Teaching area up in the front there. Storage. A larger space would provide students with more opportunities for hands-on real world learning experiences. This is just a view from the opposite side of the room.
Okay, with regard to the classroom additions um that we covered in the previous uh couple slides back, um th this rendering here shows what the new classrooms could look like. The addition would include modern 24 seat classrooms.
Additional classrooms would expand elective offerings and reduce classroom sharing among teachers. Dedicated classrooms would improve the student experience by giving teachers consistent spaces for instruction materials and student support.
Our growing we thrive special education program requires additional space to continue serving students and support out of district enrollment opportunities. So this would be a typical 24 seat classroom.
Okay. The next two slides will provide you with renderings of the high school edition from an exterior view. Okay. So um right here where the laser pointer is these windows here, these are the current windows of the media center. This is the back of the high school.
Again, here's the fire road. So thi this um structure here would be the two-story addition. Um as I mentioned uh some some of the uh current media center would be encumbered in this addition. So the actual media center
wall right now is here where the laser is. So we would be uh taking some of that media center for the addition. Then a second floor and that would be the twotory edition. And then I'll give you just um a different angle. This is from the other
side of the exterior edition. Again, here's the fire road. These are existing doors that are at the back of the building right now. Again, the two-story edition. And then this space over here is um part of our child study team.
Okay, we'll move on to the current uh high school media center. The current media center is outdated and has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s despite some minor updates over the years. Existing carpet, furniture, and overall
design no longer meet the needs of today's students and learning environments. The current setup does not support modern instruction, collaboration, technology integration, or flexible student uh learning spaces. A renovated media center would create a
welcoming modern environment that better supports research, creativity, and collaboration and 21st century learning skills. Okay, the renderings in the upcoming slides uh represent what a newly modernized media center could look like.
Keep in mind, the media center is the heart of the school, serving students, teachers, and staff throughout the entire school day. Media center lessons are aligned with classroom curriculum, supporting cross-curricular learning and collaboration across subject areas. The
redesigned space would reflect today's collaborative and technologydriven learning environment with flexible seating and workspaces for students. A modernized media center would provide versatile space for student activities, research, collaboration, and independent
learning. The space would also support a wide range of school and community events, including honor society inductions, professional development sessions, staff training, meetings, and presentations. An updated media center would create a
welcoming, multifunctional hub that better supports both academic achievement and school culture. Okay. So, we'll get to some of these renderings of the proposed media center. Thi this here would kind of be the the entrance area.
Um, as you enter in from the hallway of the high school, this would kind of be the first uh section of the media center. As you walk in, there'd be, you know, some type of receptionist area here. Our media specialists, our duty teachers would be in there. that would be some type of check-in hub for
students as they're coming in uh throughout the day. You can see at the back here um we have that beautiful uh set of windows back there so we get a nice amount of light into that space. Um so that's the view coming in from the
hallway. Okay, this is just the opposite view looking out towards the hallway. Okay. Again, here's the um hallway that goes out the set of doors at the entrance at the media center that goes to the hallway. Okay. We're actually going to gain a few feet there because there's
actually a little cutout there. So, we'll gain more um space in that entrance area. And then this is just looking outward. Okay. This is a nice view kind of at the back corner looking out across the
proposed media center. Here is the entrance to get in. This is a big open space here. Collaborative space with all movable furniture. We would have lower book stacks for improved sight lines and to create more open space for our
students. It would be a great area for meetings, events, professional development sessions. Um there'd be charging stations uh for Chromebooks. And then also just keep in mind that that library is used every day um during the lunch block. Lots of kids take
advantage of going to that li uh that media center for a variety of things. Okay. Again, um just another angle, uh collaborative space, uh movable furniture, um low book stacks, again that helps uh to improve,
uh sight lines and creates more open space. Look, and again, just an area for meetings and events, professional development. Again, areas for students to charge their Chromebooks. Just a really nice modern uh space for the students.
And then another uh view from the corner looking out. Again, those are the back windows at the back of the media center. Um flexible uh space, furniture, open concept, and again lots of um
activities, lots of usage uh going on in the media center consistently. So this is our current West Essex Middle School auditorium. The auditorium auditorium serves as a central hub for student performances, ceremonies, assemblies, and community events. This
space welcomes families, residents, and community guests, making it one of the district's most visible gathering spaces. The auditorium remains largely unchanged since the building originally opened and no longer reflects today's educational or community needs. The
space features outdated carpeting, seating, wall finishes, and stage materials that show significant wear over time. Godm is not fully aligned with current accessibility expectations and lacks modern audience accommodations.
There is currently no air conditioning creating uncomfortable conditions during performances, assemblies, and community events. Audiovisisual equipment, lighting, and controls are temporary and outdated, limiting the quality of productions and presentations. The stage
curtains and performance areas are worn, and storage storage space for equipment and materials is extremely limited. Most importantly, the renovated auditorium would be fully accessible for students, staff, families, and community
members. The space would be completely modernized in both appearance and functionality to better support performances, presentations, and school events. Updated audio, lighting, and technology systems would create a high quality venue capable of supporting a
wide range of productions and events. These upgraded features would also create opportunities for rental revenue that could benefit the district. The district currently receives significant interest in auditorium rentals, but must often decline requests because the
existing technology does not meet modern performance requirements. A renovated auditorium would provide students and the community with a modern, functional performing arts space that reflects the pride and excellence of the district. These renderings represent what a
renovated and modernized auditorium could look like. The updated design would include ADA compliant entrances, wider aisles, companion seating, handrails, and improved access to the stage and backstage areas. The renovation would include LED light
conversion, upgraded theatrical lighting, a new control board, and electrical system improvements. A modern sound and AV system would feature a new soundboard, microphones, projection system, control booth, and acoustic wall
and ceiling treatments. New seating, updated flooring, and improved aisle lighting would create a safer and more comfortable experience for guests. Additional backstage storage would provide needed space for props, scenery, and performance equipment while
improving overall functionality. The current exterior walls at the high school have poor insulation, impacting energy efficiency and indoor comfort. A sinking foundation has created gaps around walls and windows, allowing cold
air in during the winter and heat during the win warmer months. Exterior panels beneath the windows are deteriorating and showing significant wear due to years of exposure to the elements. Students and staff frequently use the West Essex
Middle School Courtyard for outdoor learning, collaboration, and brain breaks. The existing trellis has been exposed to the elements for many years and is showing significant wear and deterioration. Repairing the structure would not be cost-effective as it no
longer serves an educational function. Removal is recommended due to the high cost repairs and ongoing maintenance needs. Removing the trellis will create a more open, functional, and welcoming outdoor space for students and staff.
At the high school, selected classrooms will get new unit ventilators. These are the individual classroom units. These units are outdated and nearing or at the end of their useful life. risk of costly breakdowns more costefficient to replace
them before we have to make unplanned unplanned repairs at a high cost. Cost of replacing these receives the maximum amount of state aid instead of paying full price for each of these units
at the middle school. New rooftop HVAC units would provide heating and air conditioning to several critical spaces including both gymnasiums. the cafeteria and the auditorium. These areas are heavily utilized throughout the school
day for and for after school and community events. Both gymnasiums and the cafeteria are used during the unit lunch with the entire school cycling through lunch within a 1-hour time frame. The gymnasiums are instructional spaces used for physical education
classes throughout the day. Every student is required to take physical education, making these spaces consistently occupied for all instructional blocks. Every student is Oh, sorry. New HBAC systems would improve comfort, air quality, and the overall learning environment for
students, staff, and visitors. Okay. our current grass fields. Um, these are the grass fields that are located directly across from the middle school and board of education office. The grass fields are used by every student for physical education classes,
athletic programs, and marching band in grades 7 through 12. These fields serve as important instructional and extracurricular spaces throughout the school year. Poor drainage creates ongoing field conditions issues and limits consistent usage. Weather
frequently impacts field availability, resulting in scheduling disruptions for classes, practices, and games. Students from the district's fourcending towns transition from turf fields at their elementary schools or their town facilities to natural grass fields at
the middle school and high school levels. Because uh physical education is required for all students, these outdoor spaces are in constant use during the school day, often going from 7:30 a.m. till 9 9:00 at night.
These are the current conditions out there. Um on that big grass area space, there sits a ba baseball diamond and a softball diamond. They're diagonal from each other. in the middle of those in the outfields of those grass fields. Those are the other grass areas that we
were that I was talking about that are directly across from the middle school. Okay. So, our current grass fields experience persistent drainage issues resulting in muddy conditions and in inconsistent playing surfaces after just
about every rain event that we get. Weather conditions frequently impact fa field availability causing disruptions to physical education classes, practices, games, and event scheduling. So if you look here
again, this is our the back corner of that grassy area. This is the infield of the baseball field. And then back here where the laser is, that is the outfield. This is just a different angle of that grassy area.
This is our current softball field which sits diagonal to that baseball diamond. Excessive field wear and limited recovering time make it difficult to maintain consisting consistent playing conditions throughout the school year. Ongoing weather related closures and
rescheduling create challenges for students, staff, and all the athletic uh programs. Okay. We're proposing to put a multisport turf field in that area. A turf field with lighting uh would provide long-term benefits for
both the district and the community. Turf would reduce flooding, improve drainage, and minimize weather related cancellations. Field lighting would expand evening use and create greater flexibility for practices, games, and community events. Multisport field
markings would allow the space to support a variety of teams, programs, and activities in both the middle school and the high school. Increased field availability would help reduce scheduling conflicts throughout the school year. The upgraded facility could also create opportunities for rental
revenue through outside events, leagues, tournaments, and community use. Okay, so here's an aerial view. Again, you have the middle school right here where the laser is directly across. This is that big grassy area.
And what we're proposing here is a field that would be lined for multiple sports, multiple activities, which would maximize its use. The space would provide an additional venue for both school and community events. Unlike natural grass, turf allows for
continuous use with minimal minimal downtime between events and activities. What that means is we can basically have event after event after event and and we would have a a field that would be able to sustain that. Designated sideline areas um would
provide space for marching band practices and rehearsals. This uh proposal here would benefit approximately 10 different athletic programs including the marching band. Um because right now the marching band
practices for the most part in this area right here. So we would line this for football. So we would have a lighted practice facility for the marching band and and we would have a turf and lighted um practice um facility for all levels of
football. You would have your uh softball diamond and your baseball diamond. And then we would also uh put soccer lines and field hockey lines in that other area. So now you're hitting boys and girls soccer, middle school and high school. You're hitting all the
field hockey programs from g grade grades 7 through 12. All the football team and the marching band, not to mention physical education now, every day, all day for the middle school students. Field lighting would extend that usability into the evening hours,
allowing the facility to be used until nine o'clock at night, giving us um an extra facility to help with scheduling and to get more programs out there on a usable surface every day. Compared to grass fields, turf provides greater reliability, flexibility, and
yearround usability. Okay, this is the current main entrance at West Essex High School. These doors are outdated and while our maintenance staff works hard to keep them operational, they are nearing the end of their lifespan. Many door components are outdated, obsolete, and increasingly
difficult to replace when repairs are needed. Replacement parts are often too expensive and challenging to source. Replacing these aging doors through a state aid project is a more cost-effective long-term solution than continuing to pay for quality repairs at
full price. Security vestibules are now considered a standard best practice in school safety and security. These entrances allow staff to properly screen and manage visitors before they gain access to the building. This type of secure entry
system is recommended by local law enforcement and school security professionals. This would be the proposed um vestibule at the high school. It maintains the appearance of the front of the building and adds an extra layer of safety and security. So there's still regular set
of doors to exit the building, but the set of doors through the vestibule to enter the current main entrance at the middle school. Again, these doors are outdated and while our maintenance staff works hard to keep them operational, they are nearing the end of their lifespan. Many
door components are outdated, obsolete, and increasingly difficult to replace when repairs are needed. Replacement parts are often expensive and challenging to source. Replacing these aging doors through a state aided project is a more cost-effective long-term solution than continuing to
pay for costly repairs at full price. Again, for the middle school, security vestules are now considered a standard best practice in school safety and security. These entrances allow staff to properly screen and manage visitors before they gain access to the building.
This type of secure entry system is recommended by local law enforcement and school security professionals. Again, it maintains the appearance of the front of the building and it adds an extra layer of safety and security. So, as you can see for the middle school,
it's one set of doors to exit and then the entrance is through the security vestibule. Uh, question two, project breakdown. Two project categories. Some of the projects qualify for maximum state aid. 60% would go towards constructing the new
bleachers and press box. 40% would go toward the additional security updates replacing interior doors and hardware. Okay. Thank you for your patience. We're about halfway through. No, I'm kidding. We're almost there.
Almost there. Okay. So, um I'll talk a little bit about the current stadium bleachers. Okay. The existing outdoor bleachers no longer meet today's accessibility expectation expectations, including the absence of
ramps and accessible railings. Years of continuous use and exposure to the elements have resulted in visible wear and deterioration. The bleachers are nearing the end of their usable lifespan and replacement is recommended as a long-term solution.
Many replacement parts are obsolete and difficult to obtain, often requiring staff to reuse or repurpose older components to complete repairs. So you can see here uh we're talking about this space here that's lacking the
handrails um and um some sinking steps here into the area in front of the bleachers. This is actually the home side, this set of bleachers here. Um, okay. With regard to the current press box,
okay, the press box is showing significant age with the window, siding, and roof nearing the end of their usable lifespan. The structure lacks proper insulation, limiting comfort and energy efficiency during events. Access to the upper filming and viewing area is
currently only available by a vertical wooden ladder, highlighting the need for monitor modernization and improved accessibility. Again, an exterior view of the press box, which is a two floor structure on the home side.
Um, right here, this is the inside of the press box. This is that vertical ladder to get to the second floor. And here's a just a a photo with the door. These upgrades would align with current accessibility and safety standards for
spectators and visitors. The redesigned bleachers would include accessible ramps on home and visitor side, updated railings, improved spacing for comfort, and enclosed areas between rows and stairways to enhance overall safety and
accessibility. The new bleachers would include updated railings, accessible ramps, enhanced safety and accessibility features throughout the seating areas. The existing press box would be replaced with a modern two-story pre-fabricated
structure featuring a new roof, windows, and siding. A permanent staircase would replace the current ladder access, improving functionality and accessibility for staff and event operations. So you can see um here this is a you
know rendering of the home side. You'd have your ramps for uh meeting all the accessibility standards. Um all of our bleachers would be enclosed. There would be no spaces between uh any spacing between the rows. All the aisles would
be equipped with handrails and the press box uh would be basically the same size and square footage but just upgraded with um you know new insulation, windows, etc. Okay, so this speaks to the interior door and hardware in both buildings.
These are original doors with dated hardware upgrades to modern door card access and it would be tied into our security system and it would include our school restrooms. Um, which would allow for keyless entry,
easier to lock doors during any sort of um emergency. And this is our last slide. Would you like to close that? >> Okay. So, I just want to kind of close out by saying that as a district, we are
committed to keeping our community informed throughout this process so residents and community members can make the can make an informed decision on November 3rd. We will continue to provide updated information, project details, state aid estimates will be
shared through the district website, social media, local media. Uh many of you have elected to get emails. So, anything that goes out referendum related, we will be putting that out through multiple channels to make sure that the community has the most updated
uh information. Okay. The uh New Jersey Department of Education is currently reviewing the project applications and once state aid figures are finalized, the district's bond council and financial adviser will complete the proposal and then we will have the estimated tax impact to share with the
public. We do encourage community members to submit questions at any time through the district's dedicated email address. Um it's vote westx.org. We are checking that daily. Somebody will definitely get back to you. Um and we would encourage
you to, you know, follow us on all of our social media and um just don't hesitate to reach out if you have any uh questions. So like to thank you for your patience and for listening. And I believe um the board will go back to our
um to their seats and then we will be available for public comments and questions. Thank you. Thank you Damian and Melissa for that presentation. Um I also want to thank our ad hoc committee, our administrators, actually the entire board. This, you know, I think like
Melissa said, we've been putting this together for a long time. I think since Barb Bongo was here, we've been talking about a referendum. So, um, a lot of preparation has gone into this presentation tonight. Um, we will take questions, like I said, from the public,
questions or comments. Um, I did want to mention, and I'm going to get comments from the board members first, but one thing I did want to, um, mention was once we get the tax impact, um, you know, whatever we're going to get back from the state, we will have another meeting like this. So, we will bring it
out to the public. Again, we're not just going to say it in a meeting, but we will have a meeting like this so that everyone is aware of what um the cost will be to uh each district. I also want to mention that um in the presentation, I know Damen had mentioned that there
will be no additional staff with our two-story edition, but I also want to um mention that built into the referendum cost is the classroom furniture, um the desks and stuff like that. So those costs have already been built into the referendum cost. So that there too is
not an additional cost to um you know to um put the classrooms together and the furniture for the U media center. That's all included in our costs. So I am going to ask the board members if they have any comments or questions. If they do anybody
anyone okay then at this time we'll open it up to the public if anyone has any questions or comments. Um, I just need to read my little statement. Hold on. Okay. So, we'll open up the floor for public
comments. In accordance with bylaw 0167, a copy of which is available on the district's website. The board will open up the meeting for a period of public comments. Please remember to announce your name, place of residence, or group affiliation if appropriate. Your statements will be limited to three
minutes in duration. And as I said, we will try to answer um any questions you have. Um and if not, we will get back to you with any answers we don't have. Um do we have any um questions from the public? If you do, oh, I meant to say if you do,
can you please come up to the podium? Um there's a signin sheet there, please. All right. And then just state your name for the public as well. >> Jean Karate, 12nd Avenue, Rosland. Um, quick question. I know question one is
42 million. Question two is 7.5 million. Those are raw. Are those raw numbers or is that with the state aid included? I know Miss KDA had said that the HVAC and the doors can get state aid, but do we know how much state aid
or do you have any idea at this point the maximum amount of state aid you could get? >> We could talk about it. We could have >> we Allen too. So I mean at this point we don't have any sort of exact number.
right? Like we're waiting to hear back from the state yet. Um so that is still unknown. We would like to hope that we get the maximum amount available but um we are not 100% sure. Um I don't Allan if you want to speak to some of this.
>> So those numbers are just I don't mean to run you off. uh the numbers that uh were presented tonight were what you call the raw numbers. So that's the all-inclusive number. Okay? So that includes the construction, the soft cost, the project soft costs. It does not include the
state aid. The state aid is is determined by the department of education. We'll know those numbers probably late June into July. And as as uh Miss Kea had mentioned or u we would have another meeting at that point in
time to to let the public know what that means and what that and what that does from a bond council and a financial standpoint as well. >> Okay. Go ahead. Yes. Anyone just state your name for us and please sign in.
Hi, my name is Sapna Patel Malagay. I'm at 46 Roosevelt Boulevard in North Caldwell. Um, I wanted to first thank you to the administration and the board for your continued dedication to the students, staff, families in the West Regional School District.
Uh, as I'd mentioned, I'm a resident of North Caldwell. I'm also I also serve as a member of the board and also a parent with children currently at both at West Essex Middle School High, excuse me, high school and a child who is going to metriculate to this regional uh
district. Our district in North Caldwell, we had recently gone through a referendum process and um I can appreciate the amount of planning that goes into this and the community consideration that goes into facilitating discussions of this scale. So creating and maintaining
learning environments that support both current and future student needs is incredibly important. My question today is related to the proposed twostory edition. Has the district conducted a demographic or long range enrollment study to help support the projected need for
expansion? And if so, can you share what data was used to to support that determination? Thank you. So the district did complete um a demographic study. Our demographic study basically remained
unchanged. We did not have the increase at this level that all the elementarymentaries have at this point because ours was five years out. We do know we did use state numbers too. We looked at all of that. We do have unhoused students in the district based
on our current enrollment without the surge from the sending districts. We have we don't have the enrollment increases that they do. That answer the question. Okay. on 14 Bates Drive in Fairfield.
So my question is um since it's four towns that are going into this referendum, it only going to take one town saying no to not pass. Is that true or how is this going to um how is this going to work? So that's one
thing. And the other thing is this uh Fairfield went through referendum uh not a long time ago and it was a no. So how are you going and what are you going to do to attract the voters that go to vote
for them to say yes? Obviously this is all needed and um what are you guys doing? because it's one thing to attract the parents because we're all uh in for getting education at the appropriate
level and having all these facilities uh being in the right order. However, you have a large portion of um towns people who do not have kids in the district. You need to communicate all of that to
them and looking at the attendance at this meeting and I I don't know if it's uh broadcast or not, how many people watch. So, what is it done to attract the voters that go to the poll to say
yes to this? So, just to start off, it does not have to um it's a majority vote. So, even if it does not pass in one town, if it passes in others, what is the percentage, Alan? Is it a percentage? It's just 51%. One number, right? Okay.
So it just has to be a majority vote collectively from all the towns. So even if say Fairfield doesn't pass it, let's say there's 500 votes in Fairfield and it doesn't pass in Fairfield. If there's 501 votes combined for the other three
towns, it passes. So it just has to pass by one vote. Um and as far as the outreach getting out to the community, I can let this is Damian's thing. I'll let him go on with that. But we are doing again, you're right, there's not a lot of people here. We put it out there.
We've reached back to We've sent emails to alumni for the last 10 years. We've gone back right to 2018. Um, we are going to go on a campaign going from town to town to get the word out there. So, but I know Damian can speak to that better. I know this is his
>> we we want the attendance that we had at our COVID 19 meetings. >> So, um, it's a great question. We've been trying to get the word out through email, through social media. We've went back to uh seven years through our
alumni network and we put out and asked families if they wanted to receive uh referendum communications. We put out our messaging through the elementary superintendent and we did get several elementary uh families to join our distribution list. Uh we are formulating
a communications committee that will be made up of about 25 uh five um community members from each one of our four towns. We have our first meeting scheduled for next month. We're going to tap into our community members, work together to try
to get the word out. We did do a mailing um it was a smaller postcard mailing. We will be doing a uh a more enhanced mailing in September with larger postcards, you know, because some people like the mailings and there'll be QR codes on there that they can scan to
take them to the district website. And we'll be moving around, you know, asking permission from the different towns if we can come and speak to different groups and get the word out. Um, I'm also hosting a coffee chat this month where several people from the community have signed up to come and the topic
will be referendum. So, we're we're we're trying. We want people to get here. This is probably the most highly attended meeting we've had for the entire school year. So, um we'll continue to make those efforts for sure.
>> Anyone else? >> Hi, Yerman G58 Roosevelt Street in Rosland. I got a few questions, so let me know if I'm going too long. So you mentioned you did a demographic study and it showed that five years looking forward five years you don't see an increase enrollment. Um I know Rosland did a res a similar study and they did
see they did expect an increase in enrollment but I can appreciate they're an elementary school and so their five years is not yours five years but if they're seeing an increase enrollment in five years maybe that means 10 years from now you're going to see that. I'm concerned that if you do a referendum
now, ask them for a lot of money, but then you see that 10 years from now, you're going to have a big increase in students. You'll need additional classrooms, but you won't be prepared for that because you just asked for a bunch of money. Was that in the thought process? Go through that.
>> And then you said you had a second question. >> I got a bunch. So, is it okay to go one at a time or >> Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Do you want to answer? >> So, we have thought about that. Um, we've actually in recent years had an
enrollment surge ourselves. So, we're kind of in the midst of that. Um, so I think based on our enrollment surge and where we're at, that's where our numbers are sort of remaining steadier. Um, we definitely have way more students than we used to. So, we have considered that.
We know that the 12 classrooms though, even if we do get a little bit more of an influx in, will be sufficient for us. At this point, we wouldn't be looking to out for another referendum in five years. >> But those 12 classrooms don't come along with additional staff. So, you'd be able to service additional students with the
staff that you have already. >> I mean, yes, we would end up we would be able to service the students with that. we might have to go back to where we're just not offering as many periods of say a
certain elective because we need the room for a different class. It might end up with potential teacher sharing. I wouldn't know where we're going to be at, but based on the enrollment that we have now and the increase we've seen and our demographic studies, we've had two
in the past like four years. We're basically very level our enrollment. >> Okay. But it my my >> I just was gonna ask add so I know in the presentation we showed you the journalism room. Um we've had a big
enrollment in journalism. So it may be in five or 10 years that instead of having you know 50 people in uh in journalism we might have to cut that back to 30. So we did kind of um um project that you
know some like like Melissa said and Damian can elaborate on that. So maybe we have five sections of um English we might have to cut back to or not English because that's but an elective let's say a language you know we talked about Chinese or something like that maybe one
of the languages instead of having four sections of language they might have to go down to three and just not have as many students enrolled in the classes if that makes sense like with the electives >> that makes sense but I my comment is just like it seems that if if you're in the process of considering expanding and
renovating the school u But you but there's a good chance that in a few years you might have additional enrollment and need to cut back on some of those services or offerings to accommodate those students. Either this feels like a good time to have the expansion of those people or maybe you need to wait until you have a
sense of what that surge is really going to be before going and asking so you can ask for all that together. >> I mean okay so I would also like to say we're also trying to be fiscally responsible and mindful of the taxpayer dollar as well. So we know what we need right now. We do have smaller class
sizes. So, in the event even of a of an enrollment somewhat surge, let's say, without having to jeopardize programming for students, we could look to increase our class sizes to say a normal like 25
students in a class compared to trying to keep lower numbers at 20, but still allow students to have the full benefit of everything the district offers. >> Okay, if that makes sense. Um I I know it's a difficult process and I appreciate you know what you've been able to put together. So the next question is so you have it broken out
into two different referendum questions and the the turf work is on question one but then there's like bleachers and and other athletic things on question two. What had you put the turf on question one with school interior work as opposed to being on question two?
Well, I mean the turf is um in the first question because the middle school uses the grass fields currently versus fizzed. So, we did feel it was important to put that it is an educational even though it's a turf, it is educational. They do take uh fizzed out on the grass
currently. Um I'm sorry. Okay, I'll finish answering. Um so we did feel that that was necessary to put that in the first question because it is used for classrooms not just for sports. Um
and that's why we felt it was important to put it into the first question. >> I forgot what the second >> that's fair. Okay. Um so then I know at previous meetings some parents have come up and expressed concern that the middle schoolers haven't had outdoor resource recess time. Um is there is is this
going to allow the ability for the middle schoolers to be outside on this field? We did actually just start WECS. Um it's currently Yes. It's um our new u middle school principal. Um we we heard the parents. We are doing it as a pilot
program. They will go out there. Yes. If especially if we have the turf that they can use it as opposed to just a white grass field. But we do we did start recess this year. >> Okay. That's great. So for color my kids are elementary school. So we had and if I'm going long I can pause.
>> I was well your three minute are up but Is it? Do you have >> um Let's see if there's anything too serious. >> Not that we want Not that we want to rush you off, but I just want to give other people totally a chance. So, >> I I guess the last one would be like do
you have a sense of what the construction timeline would be? So, like what what are students going to be missing out on because it's under renovation over the next two couple, you know, couple years? So, I I think with um if it passes, um I I think a lot of that construction work
that's part of the addition can happen, right, Alan? Um it would be closed off to the main section of the building and we would work with the contractors and if at times we needed to relocate some classrooms, some classes to another area in the building, we we would we would do
that. Um with regard to the turf work, we would probably have to close for one season. So, we would we would look at the timeline and pick which season would be uh the better season to shut down. Either the fall season and during that season all those teams that play there,
you know, we just wouldn't be able to host anything home there or if it if we flipped it to the spring season for the construction, if that seemed to work better, then everything in the spring would just not be able to be out there that season. >> Okay. All right. Great presentation. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Go ahead. Good. Good evening everyone. Shappla 15 road north Cwell. Um so I missed the beginning of this presentation so I may not have all accurate numbers but from what I heard
42 million would be for the capital improvements including the turf. Is that correct? >> Yes. Do we have the breakdown how much would be for the second floor versus the third? >> We only right now we have percentages.
>> Okay. Out of this 42 million, right? So you were asking about the you were asking about the twotory edition >> the versus turf. How much >> versus the turf? Okay. So the twostory edition which um the percentage of that is the twotory edition the um media
center and the auditorium is 59% of our uh referendum costs. The turf um field renovations are 12%. >> Only >> with the lights. So it's the turf and the lights >> also which is 12% of the total not of 42 million
>> of the 42 million. Yes 12%. 42 is the total or only capital improvements? >> 42 is the total of um the first part the first question of our referendum. >> Oh, were you not here? Okay. I'm sorry. So maybe did you miss part of the
presentation? Okay. I'm sorry. >> So the 42 million covers um construction of a two uh two floor addition to the high school, the um high school media center and the middle school auditorium. And then it also replaces the lower
walls and windows at the high school. Uh it replaces the concrete trellis at the middle school. It updates the HVAC HVAC units at the high school and the middle school. This includes the turf field and lights. It also replaces selected
exterior doors, upgraded hardware at the high school and the middle school and the security festivals at the high school and the middle school. Okay. So that's the 42 million >> and out of this 42 12% so roughly 4 and a.5 million will go for the turf itself. >> Yes. So of the 42 million 12% of that is
the uh turf and the uh lights and the 59% is the addition the uh renovations to the media center and the renovations to the middle school auditorium. But so there must be also 60 + 10 is like we are still missing like the 30%, 29 59 +
12 we are not getting closer to 100. >> Are you saying what is that that total percentage? >> What was the balance? So we have 59 >> and then the 12%. >> Yep. >> So it is 60 plus 59 + 12. So it is 71, right?
>> Yes. And then the 23% of the uh 42 million is for the HVAC and infrastructure and then 6% is the security enhancements. >> I see. So just a suggestion for the referendum. >> Yeah. >> Um I heard there will be two questions
but maybe to make it more friendly to constituents and make increasing the chances of passing uh maybe we could do it like more. Okay. So, here is the capital
improvements, the second floor. Here is the turf. Here is something else. Maybe people will not be willing to pay for everything, but maybe for the building the second floor just just some idea how to make it more appeasing to
>> I understand what you're saying. So, we did do a two questions so that we can do these are our big items. Not that the um not that the stadium isn't a big um item, but we do feel like if that second
question doesn't pass, we could over time, like Melissa presented for 12 years of what we put out there, we could get that done over time. But these big ticket items, we we can't do with capital reserve. So that's why we broke it down into two questions.
>> Understand? and following to the previous person and the demographic study. So there is this big development in Rosland I believe by the highway >> um exit 5B. So it is something which is happening
right now. People I think are moving in. Do we have some feeling what impact it will have on enrollment because it seems to be kind of sizable. Are you saying do we have the uh impact of what the Roseland development will be? >> Yeah. Or maybe you we already started
seeing the numbers because I there are more and more lights on. So I think people are moving in. >> So as Melissa stated, we did a demographic study. It does not show a significant impact on us in the next five years. It may be 10 years out for
us, but we u you know a demographic study won't show that for us. >> Understand? But I'm trying to contrast two things. demographic study what demographer thinks will happen versus what's happening. We have this huge development right so we can basically
see those numbers as we speak we don't need to wait for anyone to estimate >> correct >> because it's it's happening so I'm wondering if we have better understanding for instance what to expect the next year or two years from now based on how many people are moving
into this development. Have we talked to the uh developer to someone who manages this complex? How many units they have and so on? >> So um you know we h I think we do have numbers on what those development
>> right and that was part of the demographics. The demographer does all of that. They speak to the towns and what's planned the planning board has approved and what the capacities are and what age restrictions are set up in there. how many homes might have
children in them and based on say apartment sizes or house sizes. That's how they do a demographic study. So all of that was taken into consideration. But like I said, we have had like our our numbers have gone up in the years
for the past couple years, but we seem to be relatively stable in our numbers. So, we're confident that we will be okay with what we have for our demographic study and even with our plans. Like I said, we keep class sizes low here. So,
we could always look to increase to a normal class size of say 24 25 from the 20 that we might have now. >> All right. All right. Thank you. >> And just please remember to sign if you wouldn't mind. Thank you.
>> Hello. My name is Ser. I'm uh 29 Second Avenue in Rosland. And I don't really have a question. I just have like um I guess like a statement. Um we just had a referendum pass in Rosland very successfully. And I have to say I was on
the home and school association during that time as well as like a parent on the communication committee if you will. And I have to say what I think was like a huge factor, kudos to our board of education and to our superintendent, Mr.
Leon, but the senior uh demographic I think is like the hardest demographic that you know you really need to hit. And I have to say they were like every time you turned around, Mr. Leon and Mrs. Karaji and our board uh Mr. Dario
is there, they were there. They came to our senior meetings. They held special concerts. they made the senior um community feel like they were so involved with our kids and our school and I think that is one of the reasons why it was so successful in passing. And
I was just wondering, I know you guys are going to have like a communications committee, but I really do think that like I know this is a huge district and you guys are busy and things, but are you guys planning as well to like as a board and superintendent like be out and
be present in making those efforts as well? Because I do think it is what helped a lot. >> Thank you. Yes, we do plan um we usually have a senior breakfast in December, but we're hoping to move that maybe to September to get our senior community
in. And we are going to what we're hoping to do is each, you know, since we're a regional school, we have board members from each, you know, town. So, we're hoping that, you know, I'm from North Pole, we have three board members here. So, we're hoping that maybe we can go to like a senior event at our
community center, speak to the seniors. Roseland members, same thing. So, we do hope to get, you know, we are looking to get out to the senior community as well. >> I work for Rosean Wreck. I'm the senior uh coordinator, so I would love to have you guys at any event. >> Okay, Deb Calderon,
>> so you let me know. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Hi. Um, my name is Priyanka and I'm a sophomore at West Essex and I'm also the head news editor for the Wessex Wire. So, I just have a couple of questions
and do you mind if I record them? >> I'm sorry. >> Do you? >> Sure. Sure. Absolutely. >> Okay. So, first, can you just clarify the difference between question one and question two and like which renovations specifically are involved in each of
them? Do you want to take a screenshot of it or do you want us to just to read for you what the difference the questions are? >> Well, it's more of like how is state aid applied to each of them and like what's the difference between that and which like what renovations are coming out of
the taxpayers money? Do you have like a plan for which is which or is it more just like seeing whatever the state approves? >> Yeah. So, you're asking what um what projects qualify for state aid of the projects. Do you want to speak to that, Melissa?
>> So, I can't give an exact qu answer to that question right now because we have not heard back from the state, but what I can tell you, and I could speak to some of this, right, Tony and uh Allan, that's our team over there, our referendum team. Um, so when the state
looks at this, the renovations of existing spaces qualify for state aid. We just don't know what the percentage exactly we're getting back yet. Right. So, the renovation of the media center, the renovation of the auditorium, the replacement of the lower walls and
windows, um the removal of the concrete, right? Yep. Okay. Um the HVAC units, yes, they qualify. Exterior door upgrades, they qualify. Turf and lights do not qualify.
construction of a twof flooror addition at the high school because we have some unhoused students in our long range facility plan that will qualify for some state aid but the percentage would not
be as high as the renovation spaces but it will qualify for something we just don't know yet until we get back hear back from the state in regards to question two which is the state I'm good that's the stadium bleachers and the press box that does not qualify
for state aid. The interior doors and hardware would qualify because that's a replacement. >> Okay. Thank you. And then >> uh what's a final message that you would say to families who are worried about the potential increases in taxes?
>> Can you I'm sorry. Melissa was talking to me. Can you say that again? I'm so sorry. Do you have any like final words or a message that you would say to families or like just individuals in these towns who are worried about the increase in taxes? >> Uh families who are worried about the uh tax impact? Well, I just would like to
say to the families that we're looking long-term not just for our current students but for you know future students of West Essex and we want it to be the best place that they can get an education. So although it will be a tax increase, um we're hoping it's minimal
and we're hoping that they, you know, can see the future of where we want to go with West Essex. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? No. Anyone else with just any comments and not questions?
Okay, great. Oh, can you go up to the podium? I'm sorry, I can't hear. >> Let's assume there's no state aid. What is the projected tax increase per household? >> Okay, we don't have those numbers yet. >> Why not? >> Because um it's a process. We filed with
the state. We sent everything down in February. It cannot be projected without just an estimate. >> We don't have an estimate. >> And I think that's what well >> I mean I we have our bond council. We have our bond council here. I mean he can speak to the process if you want.
>> I I believe that one of the things that people will look at is what is my cost to this? And I think it should be communicated as soon as possible. And I think that's a mistake that at this level like right now you don't even have
an estimate. >> No, we don't. And I agree with you. We are all here. Everyone here is a taxpayer. We would like to know for ourselves. So, as I said before, as soon as we get those numbers, we are going to have another meeting like this so that we can get >> I'm sorry. >> And when is it?
>> We're hoping by June or July. Right. Our tax person is right there. I mean he can speak to the process but um Tony >> I understand but the cost is a big factor >> given the time >> okay and I understand that and I do want
to just mention one thing so I mean 49 million is a lot of money it's not 49 million to each town so that will be divided among the four towns based on student population so it's going to be different for Essex Fels than it is for Fairfield it's going to be different for
Fairfield it is for North Co. And that's really why until we get numbers, we can't even guess because we don't know what the tax impact will be on Essex Fells who has less children, you know, less students who come to West Essex. So, it is, you know, we don't have those numbers to even guess.
>> Ask for projections, not exact numbers. So, >> would you like me to have Tony get up and just kind of speak to the process? He's our bond council. Tony, if you don't mind, that'd be great. Um, I think that's a great question and
it's obviously a valid concern and it's something that, you know, has driven the board in their planning process of the estimated cost of the projects. Um, but you have to remember the board wants to be transparent and wants to give accurate information and currently the
board can't give you an accurate answer because these projects could be and most of them will be eligible for debt service aid up to 40% and state usually funds that at around 34%. So that 34% you're going to get on those
eligible projects is both on the principal and interest associated with borrowing the moneyvious. So that's obviously going to be a huge differential between what gets aid and what doesn't get aid. So the board thought it would be very unfair to give an estimate at this time because that
estimate could change drastically and they don't want to give inaccurate information when in a month from now we can give you pretty accurate information. So that's the thought process behind it and but I know in the planning process they were very cognizant of the estimated cost and and
that's why the referendum makes sense for public entities in New Jersey and public school districts because of that debt service aid component because that $12 million worth of projects that the board has been able to do because of their fiscally conservative nature and
because of your business administrator's planning is great because they haven't had to raise your taxes for that. But you've actually lost out in about $4 million from the state of New Jersey because you funded that out of your own pockets. Whereas if you borrowed that money, four
million of that 12 million would have been paid for by the state. So that's another reason why the board is going for this referendum for that state aid and they don't want to give you misinformation. Okay. >> Go ahead. for whatever it is worth. But just to
take an example of North Codwell and the referendum which failed over there, I think the price tag was about 50 million. So very similar. So let's divide by four roughly. And I think the tax impact was about $1,000
if I remember correctly. So if we divide by four, we probably going to have somewhere between 200 and 300. Just guessing. >> Thank you. Okay. Is there anyone else?
Okay. I was just going to go on to board comments after that. Okay. I just want to make sure there's nobody else. Okay. No one else from the public. Okay. All right. Perfect. if you want to. >> I was just gonna say um we appreciate that there are people human bodies here
tonight for two reasons. One because it's important you guys came and you listened, but it's also really important now that you've seen you you guys sat through the presentation. You saw the photos. You heard what this means to the district. And so um a couple of you
asked like how do we get the word out? You guys are it. It's really important that community members share this information. We can't tell anybody how to vote, what to do. We can share the information, but we can only share it with the people who who we talk to, who we, you know, who are here to listen.
So, please, if you have ideas or if you you know, you know, I know Damen's going to be trying to reaching reach out to as many small groups, big groups, anybody. Coffee Clutch. Um Damen's probably the most accessible superintendent on the planet. I'm sure he won't mind me
saying. you can reach out if you have ideas um or just a group you want you think you know he should be speaking to. So um thank you for coming but also thank you for being willing to hopefully pass along the information you know that you heard tonight. So
I also just want to thank everyone that came over tonight to take their time. I know all of us are very busy but obviously if you were not interested you would not be here. At the same time um as she has stated we are asking for each
and every one of you to help us spread the word. Um, as a board member, we are really very um passionate and we want what is best for our students and um, putting together this referendum takes a
lot of time, a lot of effort and I believe that each and every one of you, if we can speak to our friends, uh, our members, our communities, and spread the word, if they have any questions, we are
very transparent. Um, unfortunately, some of the questions that you have will not be able to answer. However, there's a reason for that. For example, we want to give you the accurate information. We do not want to give you premature answers at this time to give you numbers
because we do not have it as much as we also want to know those numbers. The questions that some of you are asking here tonight are some questions that we have asked within our groups. But unfortunately, as we said, just be patient. Uh we will get the answers and as we said, we're trying to get the word
outs to you and um we are going to give you the right information and um hopefully sooner than later. So hopefully for the next um meeting that we have, we'll have more people in here and everybody's welcome to ask as many
questions. Uh also just a reminder that there's other opportunities for each of you to ask if for those who cannot come to the meeting there's a website and uh you can ask your questions in advance and we have someone that's always monitoring those questions and we want
to make sure that everybody's happy and everybody understand what we're doing here. Um and um that'll be it. Thank you. I think your questions help us shape our next presentation. So, please continue
to ask. And this is also on YouTube, so you can encourage all your neighbors to watch it. Anyone down on that end want to make a comment? No. Good down there. Okay. And as we said, we definitely will once we
have the tax impact, which we're hoping is June, July, and we won't have a meeting during the summer when no one's here. If we get those numbers, hopefully we'll have a nice big meeting in September when we get back to school. Um, okay. So, um, we're going to move on to our agenda
items. You're more than welcome to stay. It shouldn't be very long. If you feel the need to leave, you can leave as well. But, um, we're just going to get on to our agenda items. Thank you for coming, everyone. Nobody wants to the important part.
Thanks to everyone who stayed. Okay, we're going to move on to our agenda items. Uh John Toth, will you take finance, please? Uh, any questions or comments? >> Anyone? Okay, Melissa, you can call the RO, please. >> Mr. Andre, >> yes. >> Miss Cruel, >> yes.
>> Miss Dioani, >> Miss Hollandat, Miss Calderon, >> yes. >> Mr. Sher, >> Mr. To Waditz, >> yes. Laya, will you take buildings and grounds, please? Okay. Any questions or comments?
>> Melissa, you can call the role, please. >> Mr. Andre, >> yes. >> Miss Crystal, >> yes. >> Miss Cioani, >> Miss Hollandat, >> Miss Calderon, >> yes. >> Mr. Sher, >> yes. >> Mr. Toe, >> yes. >> Miss Wadwitz, >> yes. >> Jonathan, will you take personnel,
please? Any questions or comments? >> Okay. >> Mr. Andre, >> yes. >> Miss Crystal, Miss Cioani, >> Miss Hansat, >> Miss Calderon,
>> Mr. Sher, >> Mr. chose Miss Wadwitz. >> Yes. >> Can I congratulate >> Matt? >> Matt Al. >> Congratulations, Matt. >> He's our new assistant buildings and grounds
person. Um, okay. And then we're going to move on to uh curriculum. Uh Debbie Holland, do you want to take curriculum, please? >> Second.
Any questions or comments? >> Melissa, you can call the role, please. >> Mr. Andre, >> yes. >> Miss Cruel, >> yes. Miss Giovani, Miss Hansat, Miss Calderon, >> yes. >> Mr. Sher, >> yes. Mr. Toe, >> Miss Wadwitz.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, we will open up the floor for public comments on non-aggenda items. Do we have any public comments on non-aggenda items? >> Okay. No. Okay. Then we will move on. Um, Deb Calderon, do you want to read us
out, please? Being no further business before the board of education, be it resolved that the public meeting will be adjourned at 9:16. >> I