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As the Board of Education considered needs identified by the administration, faculty, parents, students, and community, they began finding solutions to meet those needs and grouped projects into categories. They then selected priorities in each of those categories.
These categories reflect those needs that either would not fit into the operating budget or would qualify for state aid.
The operating budget covers day-to-day expenses. Within that budget, the Board sets aside funding for maintenance. Some large-scale needs, such as building additions, could not fit into that budget.
State aid is available for certain kinds of projects. By including projects such as roofing, elevators and media center renovations in the referendum, the Board aims to move needs out of the operating budget and into a budget that qualifies for state financial aid. There is $9 million committed for Haddonfield, making state aid almost as valuable as a 20% discount. Details are on the Funding page.
The Board considers both of those angles as it addresses needs in all categories.
View highlights of each category below.
Click into each one for a detailed list of projects by category.
After two years of collaboration with all constituents and the district’s architects, a comprehensive solution was developed to address needs in each identified category. These solutions are interconnected, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. The referendum presents a single question because removing any piece would impact the solutions in other categories.
These plans include projects for Haddonfield’s elementary, middle and high schools that would expand accessibility inside and outside our buildings.
The Board of Education considers this one step in a critical mission: To provide equal access to students, families, staff, and visitors who might rely on crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs to move from place to place.
Highlights: Accessibility for Elizabeth Haddon School, for all playgrounds, auditoriums, HMHS stadium
Playground surfaces at every elementary school could be made from a poured-in-place product engineered to be smoother than the current shredded-wood mulch. Entry points would have no-step transitions.
At Tatem: Music lessons are squeezed into a corner of the Media Center, compromising both space and acoustics, while marginalizing the importance of Music.
We need room to accommodate higher enrollment and more individualized instruction, especially in our elementary schools.
Enrollment has risen by more than 50 students in preschool through grade 5 over the past 10 years.
New housing being developed means our schools could welcome at least 35 more new students.
Meeting individual learning needs requires more spaces for small-group instruction.
Highlights: New classrooms and remodeling could add an additional capacity of approximately 225 elementary school students and additional programming at HMHS. Additional classrooms allows us to offer full-day kindergarten.
Auditoriums in Haddonfield Middle School and Haddonfield Memorial High School are showing their age in ways that are more than cosmetic. We need facilities that reflect the value we place in the performing arts.
The growing need for additional athletic facilities affects athletes, coaches, parents and spectators nearly daily.
Highlights: Restoration of walls, new seating, and modernized lighting and sound systems for the auditoriums. Multi-purpose athletic complex for students and community.
At HMS: Auditorium has seating is in disrepair and lacks adequate accommodations for people who have mobility challenges.
At HMHS: Windows in A and C Wings would be replaced. The iconic A Wing cupola would be rebuilt to prevent water infiltration.
Our buildings represent our most significant investment. Their core construction averages 90 years old, and even with additions, the average age is 66 years old. Proper maintenance and upkeep are crucial for student and staff safety and well-being.
These projects have the added bonus of qualifying for state aid. If paid for from the regular operating budget, 100% of the cost would fall on local tax bills. If paid for with voter-approved bond funding, state aid would contribute approximately 20% toward these costs.
Highlights: Removal of mercury flooring, safety vestibule for HMHS, window and roof replacement, upgrade of outdated fire alarm system
Academic standards have increased.
Time for structured play is necessary in addition to academics.
Full-day programs spread academic lessons throughout the day and provide an additonal 135 hours for academic/social development .
Only a handful of NJ public school districts do not offer full-day kindergarten. Haddonfield is one of them.
Highlights: Full-day kindergarten in all neighborhood schools
Haddonfield is in a stark minority. Only about five N.J. school districts do not have full-day kindergarten nor a solid, funded plan to add it.
Small-group instruction often takes place in hallways and converted offices.
Education continually evolves and educators adapt. Haddonfield has reached the point where building conditions limit what our top-notch teachers can do.
Additionally, schools must meet the growing needs for small-group, personalized learning and must set aside space for important mandated support services.
Highlights: More appropriate private and distraction-free learning for individual, small groups, and collaborative learning
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