Pennsville School District
Board of Education
Key Messages

1.       The referendum is important because:

·         Provides the district more money than the usual operating budget for much needed health and life safety upgrades.

·         The scope of the work required in the referendum package cannot be met with the budget funds which are capped at a four percent increase annually however, maintenance of the buildings will continue outside of the proposed referendum scope of work.

·         Provides upgraded academic spaces at each school, with expansion and better utilization of existing spaces planned for the high school.

·         The buildings are all safe and functional, but they require these upgrades at this time because of age and efficiency.

 

2.       The board of education and a community-wide group of approximately 40 individuals have,  

·         Worked for more than three years to validate the need for facility upgrades to district buildings.

·         Dedicated time and effort to conduct facility tours.

·         Became well-versed in education models for today’s schools.

·         Met with the engineer from Remington Vernick Engineering and the architect from Gibson Tarquini Group to explore options for the district.

 

3.       Though routine maintenance is performed annually on each district building, the buildings are aging and, in some ways, dated. 

·         An addition is proposed to create new science classrooms/labs. By developing this science wing addition, it will create a closed campus environment and the most appropriate science facilities for today’s high school students.

·         The buildings require renovations to make them Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant.

·         In addition to bathroom upgrades, the high school is unable to provide its special needs students with adequate facilities for physical education classes.

·         The plans for the high school address this, with a new auxiliary gymnasium which would also be available for other programs and community use.

 

Dates schools were opened:

            Central Park Elementary School – September 1958

            Penn Beach Elementary School – September 1965

            Valley Park Elementary School – September 1969

            Pennsville Middle School – September 1962

            Pennsville Memorial High School – September 1950

 

The average age of a Pennsville Public School is 47 years old.

 

4.       The current high school music program is largely contained at the middle school. 

·         Requires students to cross the street to the middle school for coursework and practice.

·         The high school addition and renovation would provide these facilities for the high school students at their own school.

·         Will make a closed campus concept possible.

·         Would make available space at the middle school for improved programming.