Northern Valley Regional High School District to hold $13M referendum on upgrades

DEMAREST The Northern Valley Regional High School District will hold a $13 million referendum March 10 on a funding proposal for upgrades to Demarest High School and Old Tappan High School.

In addition, the project would construct a new building at Demarest for a self-contained special education program that has outgrown its current facility in Closter.

The district was able to qualify for 36 to 40 percent in state debt aid, which means that taxpayers would be responsible for only 64 percent of the costs, said Interim schools Superintendent Larry Hughes.

The costs would be split among the seven sending districts of Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan. A 15-year bond would be arranged. The estimated tax impact per year would range from $49 for the average household in Closter residents to $65 for Old Tappan residents.

Hughes emphasized that the changes are sorely needed and that the board was thrifty with property owners tax dollars. Its a carefully planned project, he said. These are necessary improvements.

Among the improvement slated for both high school campuses are renovations to the tennis and basketball courts and track, HVAC unit replacements, auditorium updates and classrooms renovated into STEM Labs.

Now was the ideal time to borrow money because of low interest rates, said Hughes. The district also was able to qualify for 36 to 40 percent in state debt aid, which means that taxpayers would be responsible for only 64 percent of the costs, he said.

Hughes said he is optimistic residents will vote in favor of the project and that he has seen no opposition to the ballot proposal thus far.

We have fantastic facilities, but they are aging, he said. People move here for our schools, so we need to maintain and support them.

If the referendum approves funding, construction would begin as early as May, he said, adding that work will be done during the summer so that it will not interfere with instruction. Work is expected to be completed by 2017.

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Northern Valley Regional High School District to hold $13M referendum on upgrades