Monroe Township School District Referendum

March 14, 2023

Page Last Updated: 2/4/2023

Why is the MTSD proposing this project?

1. Over the past few years, the MTSD Board of Education and Administration has successfully addressed many of our facility needs. The current K-12 district-wide facility needs cannot be accommodated/completed within the annual operating budget.

2. Two previous failed referenda have compounded operational and curricular challenges and inequities throughout the district.
A. 2018 Failure: A new Middle School
B. 2019 Failure: A new Middle School & High School Addition

3. Many of our aging schools are still equipped with original windows, doors, and other infrastructure items that have reached the end of their life expectancy.

4. Current INTEREST RATES are rising and promptly securing the current rate is fiscally responsible.

5. We have been approved for debt service aid! The New Jersey State Department of Education approved our request for debt service aid and will fund approximately $17 million of our referendum cost.

6. Every year that passes is another class which is subjected to overcrowding, impacted program evolutions, & marginalized learning experiences.

Impact On Schools

Monroe Township High School
Estimated project cost: $13,800,430 (renovations & refurbishment)
*Seventeen (17) additional academic classrooms
Two (2) additional small-group instruction classrooms
Physical Education Fitness Facility

Monroe Township Middle School
Estimated project cost: $39,873,112
(renovations, refurbishment, & safety upgrades)

Seventeen (17) additional academic classrooms
Four (4) additional small-group instruction classrooms
Additional conference rooms and utility rooms
*Auxiliary Cafeteria

Applegarth Elementary School
Estimated project cost: $49,953,661 (renovations, refurbishment, safety upgrades, & and mechanical services overhaul)

ADDITIONS
Twelve (12) additional classrooms
Four (4) additional self-contained special education classrooms
One (1) additional small group education classroom
Cafetorium and full-service kitchen
Conference and storage rooms

RENOVATIONS
*Roofing System Replacements
*Window & Door Replacements
*New HVAC Systems (including boilers)
*Electrical Service Upgrade
*New Generator
*Fire Suppression System Upgrades
*Barrier-Free / ADA Upgrades
*Communication & Security Upgrades
*Site Improvements include parking, drainage & bus drop-off
*New Secured Interior Courtyard
*Old middle school locker rooms converted into music room & work rooms

Impact on Curriculum Programs

K-12 District-wide Program Expansion, Balancing, & Development

Special Education
The ability to evolve services and programming for all types of learners will be enhanced.

Related Arts
Successful building augmentation and expansion will relieve scheduling restrictions, allowing for increased instructional parity and equity in the fine, practical, and performing arts.

Special Services
Special services that are shared between buildings will have the opportunity to become truly building-based, increasing overall service efficacy.

Aftercare Enrichment
Once completed, building utilization (and subsequent restrictions) will be eased and allow for deeper programmatic development in conjunction with aftercare services.

Computer Science
Currently, explicit curricular computer science units are featured in grades 8-12. The addition of classrooms (and ensuing facility balancing) will allow for the expansion of critical computer science programs.

Robotics
Curricular and co-curricular competitive robotics programs are currently limited to grades 9-12. The addition of classrooms (and ensuing facility balancing) will allow for the expansion of our competitive robotics programs.

Enrichment Services & Remediation Services
Eliminating operational restrictions resulting from facility challenges will create opportunities to develop year-round enrichment and remediation services for all learners in our school district.

Financial Information

$103,627,203 referendum with $17,439,735 in state aid distributed to the district over 27 years through debt service aid towards the bond payments. To see your estimated tax impact please go to our Tax Impact Calcuator page.

Have a question? Contact us at Referendum@monroe.k12.nj.us

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