OverviewOver the past year, the School District of the Chathams has explored financing certain capital projects that would improve district facilities through a referendum. The proposed referendum plan to be put before voters on April 21, 2015 addresses a range of programs and district needs, and would enhance both the overall curricular and extracurricular experience of the student body.

Fast Facts• School district enrollment has grown 27% since 2005.• Chatham spends 12% less per-pupil than the average New

Jersey district.• Chatham has dramatically expanded its STEM programs over

the past two years.• Chatham Middle School has less STEM lab space than any

school in the district.• The two auditoriums in the district date to 1958 and 1976, and

virtually all of their materials are original and outdated.• Up until now all repairs and renovations in the district over

the past ten years have been completed using the district’s operating budget and capital reserve account.

The proposed referendum seeks to address these issues for the long term.

Where can I get More Information? Attend: Board of education meetings March 23 and April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the board offices located at 58 Meyersville Road

Visit the district’s Website at www.chatham-nj.org.

E-mail: Email your question to boemember@chatham-nj.org

Read: Watch for periodic updates or coverage in the Star Ledger, Daily Record and the Chatham Courier.

Speak to members of the Board of Education about the plan details.

School District of the Chathams Board of EducationJill Critchley Weber, President Matthew Gilfillan, Vice PresidentThomas K. Belding Michelle Clark Richard Connors Kim Cronin

School District of the Chathams 58 Meyersville Road, Chatham, NJ 07928

March 2015

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Chathamss c h o o l d i s t r i c t o f t h e

2015 Referendum Plan

Phil Franz Lata Kenney John Nonnenmacher

Guiding Principles The School District of the Chathams, recognizing that premier educational institutions must examine their current practices in contexts both within and beyond their communities, strives to:

• Equip each of our students with the competencies and awareness to succeed academically, professionally, and socio-emotionally in a global environment.

• Align our practices and policies with current, evidence-based research in the fields of learning, child development, and education.

• Ensure that there is equity of opportunity for each student to access all curricular and extra-curricular programs.

• Promote professional growth among our staff through ongoing collaboration, feedback, and self-reflection.

Tax Impact

Per $100 $ 0.0250

House Value Tax Increase

Borough$700,000 $178.03

Township$700,000 $171.91

Total Referendum Cost $24,838,000 Interest Rate 3.50%

Comparison of Current Referendum to 2005 Referendum

Year ProjectsTotal $ Amount of Referendum

Tax Impact per $100,000 of

Assessed Value

Borough Township

2005

Gymnasiums at CMS and WAS; Classrooms at CMS, WAS,and LAF; Cougar Field House; Libraries at CMS and LAF; Turf Fields

$26,712,000 $71 $57

2015

Auditoriums at CMS and CHS; STEM Labs at CMS; Classrooms at MAS and WAS; Cougar Field Improvements; Turf Field at CHS

$24,838,000 $25* $25*

This chart shows the difference in tax impact between the most recent school district referenda. As a result of historically low interest rates, the current refer-endum results in a lower tax impact than the referendum proposed and approved a decade ago.

* Note: This amount reflects a $5 reduction in taxes resultant from the refunding of current debt.

What is this Referendum Going to Cost me?

Budgetary costs are taken from the NJDOE Taxpayers’ Guide to Education Spending, 2014 (http://www.state.nj.us/education/guide/2014/)

How Chatham ComparesSchool District Per-Pupil

Budgetary Cost

Chatham $12,954

New Providence $13,165

Millburn $14,608

Livingston $14,385

Madison $13,752

School District Per-Pupil Budgetary Cost

Westfield $13,087

Bernards $13,897

Summit $14,291

Montgomery $13,907

Princeton $18,688

State Average $14,783

Construction of New CMS Auditorium

**Preliminary sketch that is subject to change

Referendum Project Scope• Address the two outdated auditorium facilities for maximum

flexibility and program improvement for the foreseeable future.

• Add STEM classrooms at Chatham Middle School based on current and future program need.

• Add K-3 elementary classrooms based on current and future program need.

• Integrate the district administrative offices to save the district nearly $100,000 annually in operating expenses.

• Upgrade and enhance athletic facilities for increased use and greater flexibility.

• Bring all major district facilities into ADA compliancy.

Proposed STEM Classrooms and District offices Chatham Middle School

2-Story Classroom Addition Milton Avenue School

Cougar Field Upgrades

Chatham High School

Classroom Addition Washington Avenue School

Conversion of Current CMS Auditorium

Three design & technology labs

Media classroom

Professional offices

Proposed New Auditorium

Tuesday, April 21, 2015Polls open 7 am – 9 pm

District Design and Technology FacilitiesBuilding Enrolllment # of Tech. Labs Student: Tech .

Lab Ratio

MAS, SBS, WAS 1264 3 421

LAF 681 2 341

CMS 997 1 997

CHS 1194 5 239

The district has been investing in its K-12 STEM programs. Last year’s second question allocated $460,000 to bolstering these programs, including the addition of STEM teachers at the K-8 levels. As our students are exposed to more STEM curriculum K-5, it is important to ensure there are adequate facilities and programs for them in grades 6-12. This chart shows the facilities weakness in the district is at the 6-8 level. The three new Design and Technology labs included in this referendum will help ensure that the STEM pipeline into Chatham High School will remain strong.

All architect drawings are preliminary.