Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Enrollment has increased in recent years and is projected to continue to increase in coming years, with as many as 149 new high school students joining the district. The increase in enrollment has led to overcrowding and inefficient use of the facilities. Increased class sizes directly impact classroom instruction and student achievement.
• Constructed in the 1960s, Northern Burlington County Regional High School has undergone some renovations and upgrades, and been well maintained over the years. However, similar to an aging home, the facilities are in need of major upgrades, such as a new roof , as well as electrical and HVAC upgrades that go beyond routine maintenance.
• Interest rates are still relatively low and construction costs are stable, making this a good time to hold a bond referendum election.

Additionally, the district recently had debt expire (paid off) and refinanced other debt, savings the school district money.

• New construction to connect the East and West Buildings, creating a secure, closed campus. Students will no longer travel outside between classes during the school day.
• Construction and renovations to create 9 additional classrooms, including theater arts and choral classrooms – to enhance educational opportunities and alleviate overcrowding.
• Updated science and applied technology labs to help ensure NBC students are prepared for success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers, including bioengineering, forensics and meteorology.
• Upgrades to three greenhouses to maintain and improve the district’s award-winning Agriscience programs, which offer our students the opportunity to continue their education and pursue careers in farming, a key contributor to the economy in our region.
• Expanding and centrally locating the high school library, including multi-media technologies and resources for students and the community.
• Expanding the cafeteria to better accommodate all of the high school students. An expanded cafeteria also will give the district the option to schedule a single lunch period, which many high schools in South Jersey have found adds instructional and study time for students and staff, and improves overall school climate.
• Upgrades and maintenance of roofs, boilers, electric, and HVAC systems.
• Installing air conditioning throughout the East and West Buildings. Currently 60% of the classrooms are not air-conditioned.

• Health, Safety and Security
• Core Infrastructure
• Academics
• Fiscal Responsibility

• The costs will exceed the annual 2% budget cap.
• An approved referendum will spread out the cost of the upgrades and repairs over 30 years at a relatively low interest rate.

Equally important, the District will receive state aid only if the facilities renovations and repairs are funded through the referendum. State aid is not available if the projects are completed within the regular yearly operating budget. This is the most fiscally responsible way to fund the necessary renovations and upgrades.

The Board has only planed for a successful referendum and not a failed one.  Therefore we will not speculate on the future plans of the board. However, it is important to note that any repairs, renovations and new construction completed without a successful referendum would take place without state aid or the amortizing of the costs over 30 years

• First and foremost, labor rates for all construction workers are based on union rates (otherwise known as prevailing wage).
• The requirements for heating, ventilation, and cooling are more stringent for schools than housing.
• The type of construction utilized to conform to building codes has higher costs.
• The need for fire alarm and intercom systems add to higher construction costs on a square-foot basis.
• The use of fire-rated materials for walls and doors raises costs.
• Bidding laws require higher insurance costs; there also are bonding requirements.

Our projections do not reflect the need for another addition.  This project will meet the projected enrollment demands.

We accept 51 students in our Agriscience Program grades 7 – 12.  The Board set a ‘cap’ on enrollment in this choice program.  This program generates approximately $475K in additional state aid for the district per year.  With approximately 8 additional students in each grade level, there has been no negative financial impact on the budget.  Northern’s Agriscience program is an attractive program.  It is a point of pride and it serves as a powerful ‘revenue source’ for our schools.

The school does not have to eat lunch at the same time.  With a larger cafeteria, we could schedule two lunches if desired.  However, administrators and faculty have done much research on the benefits of a single lunch period.  We have also visited other school districts currently implementing similar programs.   All students and all faculty would have the same lunch period.   This would significantly increase instructional time in the master schedule and strengthen our learning opportunities in the high school.   Here is a quick video produced by Lenape Regional on their “Lunch and Learn” program.   https://youtu.be/BchPhbE1p6c   With the larger cafeteria, Northern could adapt the opportunity to meet the needs of our students.

The Fy’19 budget is not completed and we have no projections on state aid for FY’19.  It’s too early to tell without all the figures.  I do know we are not anticipating any additional personnel in the FY’19 budget and this is a good sign.

No.  We would be able to go back out for a third referendum.  However, the percentage of state aid we receive could be impacted depending on the state budget.  If less money is allocated for school construction and school aid, then our state aid percentage could go down in the next referendum while the construction cost continue to go up.  We also have some low interest rates so this is a good time.  At this time we have our state aid commitment from the department of education for the March 2018 referendum.

This is classroom equipment, cabinets and etc.  The cost is not that different from the 2015 referendum because the areas requiring casework – classroom renovations and new classrooms are basically the same.

This is connected to the Enrollment projections.   When the referendum was defeated in 2015 we had to go back out and collect new enrollment data for the 2018 referendum.  Unfortunately, these enrollment projections showed a decline in unhoused students  which in turn increased the ineligible excess cost projections.

The 2015 project included the new gym and the new auditorium.  The required site work for those projects was included in those costs not with the site work projections.  Now that these two projects, the gym and auditorium, are eliminated from the 2018 referendum, all site work stands on its own. We know the costs of this site work will continue to increase so it’s good we got some of it done last year.