LACEY – In a move designed to rescue the district’s infrastructure, the local school board approved the submission of referendum project documents to the New Jersey Department of Education. Planned for a special election on March 11, 2025, the referendum will ask voters to decide on three critical questions, totaling over $92 million in proposed expenditures.
Assistant Superintendent William Zylinski, who is set to take over as Acting Superintendent following Dr. Vanessa Pereira’s retirement on September 1, has been tasked with explaining the complex details of this referendum to the community. Pereira, who has served as superintendent since August 2018, announced her retirement recently, marking the end of a significant era in the district.
Before the board meeting, Zylinski held the second of two informational sessions to provide preliminary details of the referendum questions. This presentation was unavailable for the public’s view on the district’s YouTube channel.
The referendum will present three questions to voters.
- Question 1 proposes a $29,958,000 bond to replace all school roofs. This bond would not result in a tax increase, as it will replace an existing bond set to expire. The state will cover 40 percent of costs.
- Question 2 seeks $37,975,500 to address HVAC issues across multiple schools, which would cost local taxpayers an estimated $12 per month for an average home assessed at $285,609. The state will cover 40 percent of costs.
- Question 3 involves additional projects, including paving, locker room and restroom upgrades, and the installation of a multi-use turf field, costing $24,544,500, with an estimated tax impact of $8 per month. The state will cover only 25 percent of the turf portion.
The total cost of all three questions amounts to $92,478,000, resulting in an estimated tax impact of $20 per month for local residents if all questions are approved. This number is based on an average assessed home value of $285,609 and takes into account the money received from the state.
Zylinski emphasized the importance of Question 1, stating that if it does not pass, the entire referendum will fail. He also discussed the possibility of organizing tours to help voters understand the need for these improvements, noting that “more than just roofs are at stake” and that many of the district’s buildings need repairs and updates.
The proposed roof replacements are critical due to the age and condition of the current roofs, which have exceeded their expected lifespan.
“No matter what, the high school’s getting a roof,” said Zylinski. “When it rains, it rains inside.”
During the meeting, former Lacey Board of Education member Regina Discenza, who is running as a Democrat for an Ocean County Commissioner seat, accused the district of misleading the public about the roofs’ longevity.
Discenza cited promises made in 2009 when solar panels were installed. Zylinski acknowledged her concerns but reiterated that the current focus must be on addressing the immediate needs of the district’s aging infrastructure.
Zylinski also addressed questions about the future of the solar panels, noting that they will be removed and recycled during the roof replacements. He mentioned the possibility of exploring solar fields as a more efficient alternative, though this would be a separate discussion after the referendum.
Question 2 of the referendum focuses on the need to replace outdated and malfunctioning HVAC systems in various classrooms and spaces. Some of these systems, particularly the air conditioning units, no longer function, forcing teachers to rely on opening windows to cool down overheated rooms.
John Smith, the head of grounds and maintenance, along with the district’s architect and HVAC specialists, conducted a thorough inspection of each building. They identified the most critical systems that require immediate replacement.
The third question proposed for the referendum was updated since it was first introduced to the public a few weeks ago. It calls for gymnasium and locker room renovations at Lacey High School and locker room renovations at the middle school. Paving renovations are planned for three of the elementary schools. Forked River Elementary School would also see a renovation to its toilet room, and miscellaneous renovations are also planned for Mill Pond Elementary School.
“We also plan to add a multi-use turf field behind the high school that can be rented,” said Zylinski. “It’s not a football field but one that all sports can use, like recreational soccer.”
Zylinski added that the field could be seen as an income generator, although it would never pay for itself.
The Lacey School Board has retained Laura Bishop Communications, a firm based in Cherry Hill, to assist with messaging and community outreach. Fraytak Veisz Hopkins Duthie, P.C., a Trenton-based architectural firm, has been selected to lead the project’s design and planning, with principals William D. (Ted) Hopkins and Jason J. Dubowitch attending the recent meeting.
Discenza expressed her disappointment with the proposals, starting with the way the message was conveyed to the public.
“Asking for up to $86 million dollars (the initial proposal before the addition of the turf field) on a March 11, 2025 referendum and trying not to let it be televised?” accused former Board of Education member Discenza. “How sneaky is that to have your ‘referendum kickoff’ meeting out of the public eye? Only the people that attended know the details discussed two weeks ago.”
In a statement, Discenza said that years and years of infrastructure neglect are now coming to a head, saying that money is always geared to personnel and benefits. She added her opinion that the district is running into a bankruptcy situation and said that failure to keep up the infrastructure shows “derelict of duty.”
Zylinski noted that the existing infrastructure receives regular maintenance from both in-house staff and outside contractors when needed. He said the work is performed by qualified and certified workers.
As far as the timing of the referendum, Zylinski admitted it could prove to be problematic. Taxpayers are already upset about the school tax increase of 9.9 percent this year. Additionally, there is uncertainty concerning whether Lacey Schools will face further reductions in state aid next year, with the district typically receiving notification of any cuts in February.
“The timing of this will be awful,” admitted Zylinski. “We’ll have a referendum coming up and if the state cuts our aid, then we’ll have to tell you ‘the state cut our aid again.’”
“I’m trying to be as upfront as I can be and those numbers are public,” Zylinski added. “It’s going to come like a freight train at us one way or the other.”
