Special Election Possible for School Board Referendum

Galloway Township residents could see a second school referendum this December.

Galloway Township School District officials presented the local Board of Education Monday evening, Aug. 15, with information that could lead to a special election in five months.

Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto, with the assistance of District Architect Ted Hopkins and Board Administrator Vickie Tomasco, said that a comprehensive study was conducted earlier this year. That study revealed the district's four elementary schools need new roofs.

A new parking lot and storm water system is also being suggested for Arthur Rann Elementary School, while Roland Rogers, Reeds Road and Smithville elementary schools would be equipped with new fire alarms if the district moves forward with the referendum, Hopkins explained.

Under the proposal, 'the board is (also) contemplating a four (class) room addition at Reeds Road," Hopkins said.

Reeds Road Elementary School currently has portable classrooms.

"We've used them for 20 years," Giaquinto said, noting that "they are at the end of their use."

In the end, however, it'll be up to residents whether or not the projects will be done, but to get to that point, the board must decide whether or not to go to referendum.

The estimated cost of the entire project is slightly over $8 million

If the district does go to referendum and it passes, Tomasco said the school tax residents currently pay would increase by a few cents. It could be less if the school district receives state aid for debt service.

Until that is known,  Giaquinto asked the board to approve a resolution allowing for the process to be started. The earliest date the district could hold a special election would be December, she said.

If it does, this special election could piggyback on one that the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Board of Education may hold.

Greater Egg Regional School District began the process for its special election earlier this year, and its project includes a new roof over the existing gym, new heating, air conditioning and ventilation system and solar panels.

Adding solar panels is also being considered by Galloway Township for its referendum.

Giaquinto told board members and the public that the referendum questions could be written in such a way that one or more of the projects would proceed only if another referendum question is approved.

In other words, if the solar panels question is a separate ballot question from the roofs at the four schools, the panels could not be installed if that question passes and the ballot question for the roofs failed.

"We could not do solar if the roofs aren't fixed," she said.

The school board chose not to decide whether or not to go forward with the referendum, as Board President Ernest  Huggard said the board wanted a little more time to discuss the issue.

The next school board meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 22, at which time the board must decide if it will have a referendum in December.