F.H. school referendum passes by 2-to-1 margin Voters approve $12.3M in projects at borough schools BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer FAIR HAVEN — Despite last week’s icy weather, borough residents came out to vote March 8 and approved two questions on a special school referendum by a 2-to-1 margin. “I was supporting it,” Mayor Joe Szostak said in an interview last week. “The voters supported it, too. They voted, and it was a nasty day. “I had been in education for 40 years before retiring,” Szostak said. “This was a nuts-and-bolts proposal. These things had to be done.” “I am thrilled,” said Valery Petrone, school business administrator and board secretary. “It is just a wonderful thing for the students, staff and the public.” Approximately 25 percent of the 4,080 registered voters turned out to cast their votes and the majority supported the two questions that will allow for renovations to the two borough schools: Knollwood School on Hance Road and Viola L. Sickles School on Willow Street. The first referendum question sought approval for a $10.9 million project to construct a 7,000-square-foot addition to Knollwood Middle School, along with additional renovations and upgrading to the building’s systems. The question passed by a vote of 722 to 267. The new addition would include two-level housing. There would be two classrooms on each floor that would be capable of being divided into smaller spaces when needed. A new health room would be housed on the first level, which would also have an additional classroom. The first floor would also provide storage space. Currently, closets in both the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms are being used for storage. The second floor would have two classrooms and one small group instructional classroom. The Child Study Team office would also be on the second floor and would have space for five offices; two small conference rooms, a small reception area, an open work area and storage. An elevator would be installed in the new wing to provide greater accessibility to students with disabilities. The second question sought authorization for a $1.4 million project to install air-conditioning in portions of both of the schools. It passed by a vote of 647 to 318. Approval of the first question makes the school district eligible to receive a state grant of $3.6 million, 33.3 percent of the cost of the project, according to the election ballot. Approval of the second question qualifies the district for a $568,000 state grant to cover a total of 40 percent of the project. The state grants will reduce taxpayers’ share of the cost of the projects to a combined total of $8,140,439, according to the ballot. The current school tax rate in Fair Haven is 79 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. One cent in the borough is worth $110,456. “We were receiving over $4 million in state grants,” Szostak said. “This was the time to do it.” Property taxes are estimated to be raised to $52.58 per $100 of assessed valuation, according to Petrone, who said an exact figure will not be known until the bonds are sold. The average homeowner in the borough whose home is valued at approximately $526,000 will pay $339 per month in school taxes, up from $321. Petrone said the project is being made possible because when Christine Todd Whitman was serving as governor, she enacted a law to bond money that would allow the state to cover up to 40 percent of school construction in grant money. “It is a grant,” Petrone said, “so we do not have to pay the money back.” Fair Haven is eligible for the money today because the current school buildings do not support the student body, Petrone said. The work on the school is expected to begin by summer, Petrone said