Potential $17M Referendum Emphasizes School Security

Verona High School would receive the bulk of improvements from an estimated $17 million referendum which would touch all six schools in the district, architects presenting preliminary plans said at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. 

The work was broken into three main categories by Kurt Schmitt, senior architect for Verona-based Mylan Architectural Group — security and safety improvements, an addition to the music room and remedial work to the multi-purpose field, both at the high school.

Mylan Architecture has worked on every school in the district during its 35-year relationship with Verona Schools, Schmitt said. EI Associates, a firm based in Cedar Knolls, would handle the engineering aspects of the project.

The district has applied for a facilities ROD (Regular Operating Districts) grant from the state Department of Education, which would pick up 40% of the bill. 

Richard Basta of EI said notice about the grants could come around Nov. 15, but cautioned the district that more than 2,000 applications were submitted this year exceeding the amount of available funds.

A public vote on the referendum is expected to take place in early 2014.

Safety, Security & Other Upgrades 

Improved security throughout the district would be accomplished by replacing a number of outdated openings, adding a protective film up to five-feet above ground level to the exteriors of buildings and installing new cameras at better angles in order to monitor main entry points.

The security glazing, Schmitt said, is considered a best practice to “prevent or delay access” to school buildings.

Safety upgrades would focus on repairing deteriorating sidewalks, curbs and blacktops, and fire alarms would be replaced where needed.

The high school and middle school cafeteria kitchens would be upgraded to be more energy efficient and brought up to modern standards.

Bleachers at the high school would be refurbished, and handicapped areas would be added.

Technology upgrades throughout the district would include adding WiFi to all schools with the high school serving as a hub for technology systems.

High School Music Room

An addition to the music room at the high school would double space from approximately 1,500 to 3,000-square feet. 

The larger room would better accommodate the more than 120 musicians in the high school marching band. The space would also be used by about 100 concert band musicians, the jazz band and the choir. 

Moveable partitions would allow the room to be broken down into three smaller spaces. Other improvements would include new heating and ventilation, new finishes, additional storage space and a unisex bathroom.

A vestibule would be added under the proposed plan to create a buffer from the gymnasium entrance.

High School Field, Tennis Courts

The Verona High School multi-purpose field, which has been unusable due to a number of sinkholes, would be remediated and a turf field would be installed.

After a study was conducted and reviewed in the spring, the district has favored an option which would require compacting and resurfacing of the field. 

New bleachers would also be added to home and away sides of the field, as well as new lighting. 

The tennis court area would also be remodeled with a fifth court and new lighting.

The next meeting of the Verona Board of Education is Tuesday, Nov. 5.