1. School #1 Ballot Question and Proposal
Fall, 2016

2. re-open as a public school serving Kindergarten students in
On November 8, 2016, the
Woodland Park Board of Education will ask the voters to consider an important ballot question which would allow School #1 on McBride Avenue to
re-open as a public school serving Kindergarten students in
September 2017.

3. Why are we discussing RE-opening School 1?
Currently, Memorial School is severely overcrowded. According to NJDOE facility standards, Memorial School has the functional capacity for 362 students, however the school currently houses ~510 students. The cafeteria and the library are being used as instructional space in order to accommodate instructional needs. Opening School #1 will allow for the alleviation of this overcrowding and provide an appropriate learning environment our children need and deserve.

4. New Programming
Due to the lack of available space in each of the buildings, our ability to open new classes is limited, i.e. Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy Room, STEAM Lab, continuum of programming for special needs students, full-day PreK, art rooms, and music rooms.

5. Grade Levels Proposed Realignment
Kindergarten students will be located at School #1. This is a total of
approximately 117 students.
1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students will be located at Charles Olbon School.
4th and 5th grade students will be located at Beatrice Gilmore School.
6th, 7th and 8th grade students will be located at Memorial Middle School.
The realignment will alleviate the overcrowding at Memorial School, provide much needed classroom space and eliminate the possibility of a costly referendum question in the future.
A referendum could potentially cost three or four times the amount being requested in November.

6. Educational Benefits and Possible New Revenue
Moving grade 5 out of Memorial School will create a true middle school. Memorial School will then house students in grades 6-8.
School #1 will operate as an early childhood educational center.
Additional space gained at School #1 will allow for the option to
accommodate a general education Preschool in the future.
Opening general education Preschool will generate possible revenue to offset costs at School #1.

7. Additional Benefits
Using School #1 would reduce the number of students displaced by a catastrophic flood event at Memorial School.
As part of a temporary emergency plan, the relocation of students from Memorial School to other school facilities, including School #1, would allow less interruption in the school year and provide each of our three other school facilities to be used on a temporary basis.

8. Currently…
School #1 is currently being rented by the Cedar Grove School District and houses ~237 elementary students plus staff.
Five school buses, parent drop off and pick up and staff traffic.

9. Enrollment

10. Enrollment
We are addressing illegal residents in our school district on a daily basis. 24 students have been disenrolled over the past three years.
We are also conducting re-registration for all students entering grades 3 and 5.
There will be 6 sections of Kindergarten as there is this school year.
Student-teacher ratio is ~20:1 which we would like to maintain.
It is anticipated that class sizes will remain the same at all of the schools.
Opening School #1 will simply allow for additional classrooms for current and future programs.

11. Potential staffing needs
1.5 Full Time Equivalent custodians
2 Full Time Equivalent teaching positions
1 new Full Time nurse
2 Part Time lunch aides
Administrative (Principal) and secretarial positions - internal transfers
2 Part Time bathroom aides

12. Question #3 on Ballot
In addition to the regular advertised budget, the Woodland Park Board of Education will seek approval from the District’s legal voters to raise an additional $495,000 for General Funds for the reopening of School #1. These funds will be used exclusively to alleviate overcrowding and enhance existing academic program needs. This money will be used for the annual operating costs for staffing, supply and service costs for maintenance, utilities, technology and instruction.

13. Additional annual loss of rent
Budget Outline
School #1
ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
ONE TIME CAPITAL IMPROVENTS
Replacement of flooring within 5 years
$ 100,000.00
Wheel Chair Lift
$ 75,000.00
Utilities Gas & Electric, Water
$ 37,500.00
New parking lot within 5 years
$ 200,000.00
School and Classroom Supplies
$ 14,500.00
New classroom lighting
Busing -Shared with BG bused students $
Install new student bathrooms on first and second floor
1.5 New FTE custodians
$ 71,300.00
Insulate Attic
$ 10,000.00
2 New FTE teachers
$ 127,000.00
Total One Time Construction Upgrades
$ 660,000.00
3 Health benefits $27,000 + Fica & Pension
$ 93,000.00
1 FTE Nurse & Supplies
$ 59,000.00
Hire 2 part time lunch aides $5,500
$ 11,000.00
Custodial maintenance supplies and repairs
$ 25,000.00
Technology supplies, repairs, equipment
Transfer existing secretary
Transfer existing administrator
Hire 2 part time aides to walk students to bathrooms
$ 31,700.00
Total Additional Annual Operating Expenses
$ 495,000.00
Additional annual loss of rent
$ 132,372.00

14. Tax Impact of Separate Proposal for Additional Funds to reopen School #1
Local school district property taxes for the average home assessed at $343,653 will increase from $3,268 to $3,371 or $ per year.
That breaks down to $8.58 per month.

15. Thank you for coming….
November 8th is
Election Day!
Don’t Forget to
VOTE!