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

2015 Referendum PlanA p r i l 2 0 1 5

A Message from the Board of Education warrantedupgradestobetterprepareourstudents.Forthesereasons,theBoardisproposingareferendumtothevoterstoaddressahostofcapitalneedsthatwebelievecannotbedeferredanylongerandthatwillenhancethestudenteducationalexperienceinacomprehensiveway.

Specifically,thisreferendumseekstoreplacethemiddleschoolauditorium,whichdatesto1958,refurbishthehighschoolauditorium,quadruplethenumberofSTEMlabsatChathamMiddleSchool,addclassroomstoourelementaryschools,andmakeimprovementstobothCougarFieldandtheathleticfieldsbehindChathamHighSchool.

Afterconsultationwitharchitects,andwithinputfromthecommunity,theBoardreviewedseveralwaysitcouldrenovate,addspace,andupgradefields.Theproposedreferendumtookintoaccountoptimaluseofspace,costs,andeducationalprogrammingthatwillmeetstandardsandbestpracticesformanyyearstocome.TheBoardspentmuchtimecomparingprojectconceptsandcosts,andisofferingtheproposedplans

asthemostcost-effectiveapproachbytakingadvantageoflowinterestrates,statedebt-serviceaid,andreduced

expenses,withspaceflexibilitythattakesusintothefuture.

OnApril 21,residentswillvoteonboththereferendumandthedistrict’sannualoperatingbudget.Recognizingthatthereferendumseekstoaddresscriticalcapitalandinfrastructureneeds,theBoardhasworkedtodeliveranoperatingbudgetwiththelowesttaxincreaseinmorethanadecade.Webelievethatthetwoproposalstogetherdelivergreatvalueandwillfurtherimproveouralreadyhigh-performingdistrict.

Weencourageyoutoreadthisnewslettertolearnmoreaboutboththeproposedoperatingbudgetandthereferendumplan.Weinviteyoutovisitourwebsiteatwww.chatham-nj.orgforadditionaldetails,ortoemailDr.MichaelLaSusa,theSuperintendentofSchools,atmlasusa@chatham-nj.org,ortheBoard,atboemember@chatham-nj.org,toansweranyadditionalquestions.

Thankyouinadvanceforyourongoingsupportofouroutstandingschooldistrict.

Sincerely,

TheSchoolDistrictoftheChathamsBoardofEducation

•Schooldistrictenrollmenthasgrown27%since2005.

•Chathamspends12%lessper-pupilthantheaverageNewJerseydistrict.

•ChathamhasdramaticallyexpandeditsSTEMprogramsoverthepasttwoyears.

•ChathamMiddleSchoolhaslessSTEMlabspacethananyschoolinthedistrict.

•Thetwoauditoriumsinthedistrictdateto1958and1976,andvirtuallyalloftheirmaterialsareoriginalandoutdated.

•Upuntilnowallrepairsandrenovationsinthedistrictoverthepasttenyearshavebeencompletedusingthedistrict’soperatingbudgetandcapitalreserveaccount.

Fast Facts

New Jersey Monthly Top Schools, 2014

SchoolPer-Pupil Budgetary Cost

1. Chatham $12,954

2. Haddonfield $12,281

3. Northern Highlands $16,570

4. West Morris Mendham $14,561

5. Millburn $14,608

6. New Providence $13,165

7. Pascack Hills $19,277

8. Glen Rock $16,492

9. Marlboro $14,359

10. Rumson-Fair Haven $16,562

DearCommunityMember,

Eachandeveryyear,theBoardofEducation(Board)strivestopresentaspendingplantotheresidentsoftheChathamsthatdeliversthebestvalueinpubliceducationthatonecanfind.Ourschooldistrictconsistentlyappearsnearthetopofstateandnationalrankings,yettowardthebottomofanyper-pupilcostcomparisonofNewJerseydistricts.Weareproudofthisrecord.

Atthesametime,therehavebeenoccasionsoverthepast20yearswhentheBoardhasdeemeditnecessarytoproposeadditionalspendingmeasurestoaddresscriticalcapitalneeds.Exactlyonedecadeago,theBoardproposedareferendumtoaddressclassroom,athleticfields,gymnasium,andlibraryimprovementstomeetthedemandsofarisingenrollmentandanaginginfrastructure.

Districtenrollmenthasjumpedanother27%inthepasttenyearsandanumberofourfacilities,especiallythosenotaddressedinthe2005referendum,needimprovement.Inaddition,dramaticchangesinthefieldsofSTEM(Science,Technology,EngineeringandMath)have

and Annual Budget

Referendum Scope & Plans

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Theschooldistricthasattimesoperatedatorbeyondcapacityinitselementaryschools.Enrollmenthasnotdeclinedaspredicted.SixnewclassroomswillrelievepressureonclassroomuseandenablethedistricttomovecertainprogramsfromSBStoMAS,thuscreatingtwoadditionalclassroomspacesineachschoolbuilding.

Referendum Project Scope

•Addressthetwooutdatedauditoriumfacilitiesformaximumflexibilityandprogramimprovementfortheforeseeablefuture.

•AddSTEMclassroomsatChathamMiddleSchoolbasedoncurrentandfutureprogramneed.•AddK-3elementaryclassroomsbasedoncurrentandfutureprogramneed.•Integratethedistrictadministrativeofficestosavethedistrictnearly$100,000annuallyin

operatingexpenses.•Upgradeandenhanceathleticfacilitiesforincreaseduseandgreaterflexibility.•BringallmajordistrictfacilitiesintoADAcompliancy.

ClassroomAdditionWashingtonAvenueSchool

Washington Avenue School (WAS)

•Buildtwo(2)newclassroomswithbathrooms

ApproximateCost:$1.1million-$100,000=$1 million(statedebtrelief)

ProposedNewAuditorium

Chatham Middle School (CMS)

Constructanewauditoriumthatincludes:

• Increasedseatingcapacity• Modernlighting,sound,andtechnicalfeatures• Adequatespaceforsetconstruction• Criticalstoragespace• Largerstagearea• Dressingrooms

Repurposetheexistingauditoriumtocreate:• Three(3)newSTEMlabstohousecomputer

programming,robotics,andengineeringcourses• Additionalmediaclassroom• Districtadministrativeoffices

Note: new computer labs, engineering lab, and office space cannot be built without building the new auditorium.

Approximatecost:$14.2million-$1.4million=$12.8 million(statedebtrelief)

ProposedSTEMClassroomsandDistrictofficesChathamMiddleSchool

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Cougar Field

ManymaterialsandfacilitiesatCougarField,includingthebleachers,fencing,macadam,andparkingplanareinneedofimprovement.Arunning/walkingpathwillhelpsupportoneofourlargestathleticactivities,boysandgirlscrosscountry.

• Reviseparking• Replacespectatorseating(bleachers)• Installnewsoundsystem• Installcrushedcinderwalking/runningpath• Replacemacadamandperimeterfencing

Approximatecost:$1.4 million

CougarFieldUpgrades

2-StoryClassroomAdditionMiltonAvenueSchool Milton Avenue School (MAS)

• Buildfour(4)newclassroomsina2-storyadditionwithbathrooms

ApproximateCost:$2.2million-$300,000=$1.9 million (statedebtrelief)

ChathamHighSchool

Chatham High School (CHS)

Installanewhybrid-surfacemulti-purposefieldwith:

•Propergradinganddrainage•Artificialturfonvarsitybaseballandmulti-usefield

toenableexpandeduseforathleticteams,physicaleducationclasses,andthemarchingband

Renovateexistingauditoriumtoinclude:

• Newenergy-efficientHVACsystem• Upgradestosound,lighting,wallcoverings,andseating• Newroofingsystem• AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)upgrades

Approximatecost:$5.9million-$1.1million=$4.8 million(statedebtrelief)

Total Cost and What the State Will Pay Thetotalcostofthereferendumplanis$24.8million.Theboardexpectstoreceivedebtserviceintheamountof$2.9millionifthereferendumisapproved.

All architect schematics are preliminary drafts.

Q1. Why is there only one referendum ballot question for voters to consider?

TheBoardofEducationbelievesthisreferendumtobeaholisticandcomprehensiveapproachtoimprovethethreemajorcomponentsoftheeducationalexperience:academics,thearts,andathletics.Withthelowinterestratesandstateaid,thereferendumdeliverssignificantvaluetothedistrict.Further,bundlingtheprojectshasthepotentialtoresultinamorecompetitivebiddingprocessandefficienciesinconstruction.

Q2. Why build a new auditorium at the middle school? Why not renovate it instead?

TheBoardhasexaminedsimplyrenovatingeachauditoriumspace.Whilethisisacheaperoption,itresultsinlessseatingcapacityineachfacilityasaresultofA.D.A.requirementsandfailstoaddresscriticalauxiliaryneeds.ItalsoeithereliminatestheopportunitytocreateSTEMlabspaceorit

requirestheconstructionofthoselabsinanotherlocation.

TheBoardhasalsoexaminedexpandingbothoftheexistingauditoriums.However,duetothelocationofeachauditoriumwithinandbetweenexistingschoolfacilities,itisnotafeasibleoption.

Buildinganewfacilityofferstheopportunitytodesignatheaterfacilitythatwouldplaceusonparwithnumerousotherareaschooldistrictsandprovideincreasedseatingcapacity,aproperareaforsetconstruction,appropriatedressingroomfacilities,criticalstoragespace,andother

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Referendum and Budget Q & A

Comparison of Current Referendum to 2005 Referendum

Year ProjectsTotal $ Amount of Referendum

Tax Impact per $100,000 of Assessed

Value

Borough Township

2005

GymnasiumsatCMSandWAS;ClassroomsatCMS,WAS,andLAF;CougarFieldHouse;LibrariesatCMSandLAF;TurfFields

$26,712,000 $71 $57

2015

AuditoriumsatCMSandCHS;STEMLabsatCMS;ClassroomsatMASandWAS;CougarFieldImprovements;TurfFieldatCHS

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

Thischartshowsthedifferenceintaximpactbetweenthemostrecentschooldistrictreferenda.Asaresultofhistoricallylowinterestrates,thecurrentreferendumresultsinalowertaximpactthanthereferendumproposedandapprovedadecadeago.*Note:Thisamountreflectsa$5reductionintaxesresultantfromtherefundingofcurrentdebt.

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

ThedistricthasbeeninvestinginitsK-12STEMprograms.Lastyear’ssecondquestionallocated$460,000tobolsteringtheseprograms,includingtheadditionofSTEMteachersattheK-8levels.AsourstudentsareexposedtomoreSTEMcurriculumK-5,itisimportanttoensurethereareadequatefacilitiesandprogramsforthemingrades6-12.Thischartshowsthefacilitiesweaknessinthedistrictisatthe6-8level.ThethreenewDesignandTechnologylabsincludedinthisreferendumwillhelpensurethattheSTEMpipelineintoChathamHighSchoolwillremainstrong.

Per $100 $ 0.0250

Referendum Tax Impact

House Value Tax Increase

Borough$700,000 $178.03

Township$700,000 $171.91

Total Referendum Cost $24,838,000

State Debt Service Relief $2.9m

Interest Rate 3.50%

moderndesignfeatures.

Inaddition,anewfacilityenablesthedistricttoimproveitsdedicatedSTEMfacilitiesatChathamMiddleSchool.AllcomponentsoftheconversionofthecurrentauditoriumintoSTEMlabandofficespacequalifyforstatedebtrelief,reducingthecosttotaxpayersfrom$3.4millionto$2million.Coupledwithsavingsinoperatingcosts,thisisthemostcost-efficientaspectofthereferendumproposal.

Q3. What are the projected operating costs associated with the referendum plan?

Thedistrictestimatestheadditionaloperatingcostsassociatedwiththenewauditoriumtoberoughly$40,000peryearinenergyandcustodialcosts.Thedistrictprojectssavingsbetween$85,000and$100,000fromrelocatingitsdistrictofficesfromtherentallocationatMeyersvilleRoadtoschoolproperty.Therefore,theoperatingcostswouldbenetpositivefortheschooldistrict.

Ifthereferendumfails,noneoftheprojectsproposedwouldmoveforwardandstateaidwouldnotbeawardedatthepresenttime.

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Operating Budget Basics 2015-16

1. BudgetarycostsaretakenfromtheNJDOETaxpayers’GuidetoEducationSpending,2014(http://www.state.nj.us/education/guide/2014/)

2. PerformancedataaretakenfromtheNJDOESchoolPerformanceReports,2015(http://education.state.nj.us/pr/)

3. APParticipationRate=Numberofstudents,asapercentageof11thand12thgraders,whotookatleastoneAPtestin2013-2014

4. Post-SecondaryEnrollment=%ofstudentsenrolledinhighereducation16monthsafterhighschoolgraduation

How Chatham ComparesSchool District

Per-Pupil Budgetary

Cost

AP Participation

Rate

Post- Secondary Enrollment

Chatham $12,954 70.1% 93.0%

New Provi-dence

$13,165 42.2% 88.0%

Millburn $14,608 61.9% 87.0%

Livingston $14,385 55.4% 89.0%

Madison $13,752 49.6% 85.0%

Westfield $13,087 44.8% 90.0%

Bernards $13,897 53.6% 88.0%

Summit $14,291 68.0% 84.0%

Montgomery $13,907 62.4% 88.0%

Princeton $18,688 87.8% 86.0%

State Average

$14,783 NA NA

What does the proposed 2015-16 district budget look like?

2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016

Tax Levy Increase 3.46% 3.34% 1.77%

Local Tax Levy 55,874,234 57,742,607 58,767,459

Estimated Annual Tax Impact--per $100,000 of Assessed Value

Chatham Borough $33.63 $25.79 $15.23

Chatham Township $41.32 $48.45 $27.95

Estimated Annual Tax Impact--$700,000 Home

Chatham Borough $235.43 $180.56 $106.62

Chatham Township $289.27 $339.12 $195.67

1.77% proposedtaxlevyincreaseresultsinataximpactper$100,000thatismorethan41% lower thanlastyear’staximpactinboththeBoroughandTownship.

Theproposed2015/2016operatingbudgetwillmaintainandsupportallcurrentdistrictprogramsandclasssizes.Withafocusoncapitalimprovementsviatheproposedreferendum,theBoardhasheldthetaxlevyincreasetoitslowestamountinatleastadozenyears.

State Avg. Chatham Rate of Inflation3.2 2006/7 $12,259 $11,694 $11,6942.8 2007/8 $12,881 $11,585 $12,068 $12,0213.8 2008/9 $13,338 $11,665 $12,406 $12,478

-0.4 2009/10 $13,627 $11,464 $12,877 $12,4281.6 2010/11 $13,290 $11,780 $12,825 $12,6263.2 2011/12 $13,917 $12,019 $13,030 $13,0302.1 2012/13 $14,166 $12,171 $13,447 $13,303

$10,000

$10,500

$11,000

$11,500

$12,000

$12,500

$13,000

$13,500

$14,000

$14,500

$15,000

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

State Avg.

Chatham

Rate of Inflation

This chart shows Chatham's spending trend over time. The rate of inflation is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and available at www.usinflationcalculator.com. The per-pupilspending amounts are published through the NJDOE's Taxpayers' Guide to Education and show thethe most recent years for which actual spending per pupil is available.

State Avg. Chatham Rate of Inflation3.2 2006/7 $12,259 $11,694 $11,6942.8 2007/8 $12,881 $11,585 $12,068 $12,0213.8 2008/9 $13,338 $11,665 $12,406 $12,478

-0.4 2009/10 $13,627 $11,464 $12,877 $12,4281.6 2010/11 $13,290 $11,780 $12,825 $12,6263.2 2011/12 $13,917 $12,019 $13,030 $13,0302.1 2012/13 $14,166 $12,171 $13,447 $13,303

$10,000

$10,500

$11,000

$11,500

$12,000

$12,500

$13,000

$13,500

$14,000

$14,500

$15,000

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

State Avg.

Chatham

Rate of Inflation

This chart shows Chatham's spending trend over time. The rate of inflation is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and available at www.usinflationcalculator.com. The per-pupilspending amounts are published through the NJDOE's Taxpayers' Guide to Education and show thethe most recent years for which actual spending per pupil is available.

Chatham Spending vs. InflationThischartshowsChatham’sspendingtrendovertime.TherateofinflationispublishedbytheU.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsandavailableatwww.usinflationcalculator.com.Theper-pupilspendingamountsarepublishedthroughtheNJDOE’sTaxpayers’GuidetoEducationandshowthemostrecentyearsforwhichactualspendingperpupilisavailable.

Overview of District ExpendituresProposed 2015-16 Operating Budget

Where can I get more information? Tuesday, April 21, 2015Polls open 7 am – 9 pm

Polling places:Borough Residents: UpperGymnasium—

ChathamMiddleSchoolTownship Residents:GymnasiumC—

ChathamHighSchool

Visitthedistrict’sWebsiteatwww.chatham-nj.org.

E-mail: Emailyourquestiontoboemember@chatham-nj.org

Read:WatchforperiodicupdatesorcoverageintheStarLedger,DailyRecordandtheChathamCourier.

SpeaktomembersoftheBoardofEducationabouttheplandetails.

School District of the Chathams Board of Education

58 Meyersville RoadChatham, NJ 07928

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PAIDPermit No. 1014

Chatham, NJ 07928

Postal PatronChatham, NJ 07928

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

JillCritchleyWeber,PresidentMatthewGilfillan,VicePresidentThomasK.BeldingMichelleClarkRichardConnors

KimCroninPhilFranzLataKenneyJohnNonnenmacher

Dr.MichaelLaSusa,SuperintendentPeterDaquila,BusinessAdministrator

ThisnewsletterisapublicationoftheBoardofEducationoftheSchoolDistrictoftheChathamsandispaidforwithlocaltaxrevenues.Aportionofthecolorprintingofthenewsletterhasbeendonatedtooffsetcosts.

Guiding PrinciplesTheSchoolDistrictoftheChathams,recognizingthatpremiereducationalinstitutionsmustexaminetheircurrentpracticesincontextsbothwithinandbeyondtheircommunities,strivesto:

• Equipeachofourstudentswiththecompetenciesandawarenesstosucceedacademically,professionally,andsocio-emotionallyinaglobalenvironment.

• Alignourpracticesandpolicieswithcurrent,evidence-basedresearchinthefieldsoflearning,childdevelopment,andeducation.

• Ensurethatthereisequityofopportunityforeachstudenttoaccessallcurricularandextra-curricularprograms.

• Promoteprofessionalgrowthamongourstaffthroughongoingcollaboration,feedback,andself-reflection.

Regular Instruction – 34%Special Education Instruction – 16%

Co-Curricular Activities and Athletics – 2% Attendance/Nursing Services – 1%

Guidance – 2%

Curriculum/Instruction – 4%General Admin – 2%

School Admin – 4%Central Office & Admin IT – 2%

Operations/Maintenance – 9%

Transportation – 4%

Employee Benefits – 15%

Grants & Entitlements – 1%Debt Repayments – 4%

Theproposedoperatingbudgetsupportsalldistrictprogrammingandresultsinanincreaseof1.77%inthetaxlevy.

A“No”voteonthebudgetmeansthemunicipalgoverningbodieswoulddetermineatotaldollaramounttobecutfromthebudget.Thishasthepotentialtoimpactspecificprograms,staff,andclasssizes.