Haddonfield superintendent reports bond referendum information sessions
At the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 21, Superintendent Richard Perry said there will be public information sessions on the upcoming bond referendum.
The superintendent’s report began with an update on the communication initiative the district is having on the upcoming bond referendum. HPS will be having three open public community information meetings at all three elementary schools regarding the proposed bond referendum. Those meetings all begin at 7 p.m. and the dates and locations are as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 27 in the Central Elementary School Library, Wednesday, Feb. 3 in the Tatem Elementary School Library, and Wednesday, Feb. 10 in the Elizabeth Haddon School Library, with Wednesday, Feb. 17 open in case another informational session is needed.
The district also plans to go to the Rotary Club and 65 Club to give presentations.
At the December BOE meeting, the Communications Committee said it was creating an interactive website for the public on the bond referendum. The website was expected to go live by Jan. 15, but it is not yet available to the public
Perry also gave an update on some questions that had been raised about the district using past bond referendum money improperly. Perry said the district had state employees check if everything was spent as said, and, according to Perry, everything checked out.
“Recently, we had the state come in to look at the past bond referendums dating back to 2001 and 2005 bonds, which were approved in 2000 and 2004. They found everything was in order, all of the paperwork … and how money was spent on previous bonds,” Perry said.
“As far as the state of New Jersey is concerned, we spent all of the money properly that we asked for and that we received,” BOE President Glenn Moramarco said.
In other news:
• Perry gave an update on a fundraiser that Oriental Pearl Restaurant was having for the schools. As January marks the 20th anniversary of the restaurant, the ownership team of George Zhao and his wife Guiqin Li, expressed their appreciation for the support of the community by donating their gross sales on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 to the five public schools and two private elementary schools in Haddonfield to purchase books and other educational materials for their libraries. According to Perry, HPS received a donation of almost $10,000.
“That was really nice, and everyone, including myself, enjoyed a nice meal,” Perry said.
• An article in the Courier-Post reported the high school’s stadium lights and poles would have to come down due to decaying conditions. At one point, the poles and lights for the stadium were in the bond referendum, but were taken out to cut costs. Perry wanted to remind the public that they are looking at other ways to replace those poles and lighting through either fundraising or partnerships. The new lighting would be more efficient, have guards and be less intrusive in the neighborhood.
“I wanted everyone to know that we’re not forgetting about it. We’re trying to be creative in raising the money rather than putting it in a burden on the budget or bond,” Perry said.
• The next meeting is Feb. 25 in the high school library at 7 p.m.
