Acupuncture in South Amboy, NJ

Guest Column

The writer says: "South Amboy’s children do not deserve a school district with malfunctioning air conditioners and heating systems, leaking roofs, broken floors and doors, and a shortage of classrooms. We are better."Photo Credit: Shutterstock

By Elyse Leavy

Published March 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM

Last updated March 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM

Building an even better South Amboy school district requires us all to take a close look at our facilities.

Our building managers and custodians have done an amazing job over the years to make vital repairs. But, as we saw in September, when temperatures were hovering over 90 degrees, the district’s air conditioning systems are unreliable and often break. And we were reminded during the recent cold spells that the schools’ heating systems are also in dire need of replacement.

In fact, many in South Amboy would be surprised to know that one of the major HVAC systems at the middle/high school can no longer be turned off. Why? Because the maintenance staff believes they will never get it to kick back on.

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The school district is now spending upwards of $800,000 a year on emergency repairs to the HVAC systems. And that is just one of the major issues we are facing. The roof at the middle/high school continues to leak in many places, evident in all those stained ceiling tiles that we continue to replace any time it rains or snow melts.

These reasons – among many more – are why the district is asking city voters on Tuesday, March 11 to provide the funding needed to make critical repairs and prepare the schools to accommodate another generation of young learners. The $35 million plan – with the support of an additional $9 million in aid from the state – will finally fix and upgrade our school buildings.

An important note: If voters reject this plan, South Amboy loses the $9 million in state aid. And, with the bleak budget situation in Trenton, it remains very unclear if this money will be made available to South Amboy again.

This plan addresses many ongoing issues affecting the school buildings. I believe these aging and outdated facilities are preventing the school district from running a more streamlined, effective operation.

Here’s one example: the school district spends millions of dollars a year to pay for out-of-district placements for students who have special needs, as well as to run pre-k programming in buildings outside the district. These programs could run much more efficiently if we had adequate space in our elementary school.

That is why the plan calls for an addition to be built at South Amboy Elementary School. By having six more classrooms in the building, the district can strategically reconfigure the classrooms to bring more students back into the school, rather than paying for transportation, tuition and other costs for them to be educated elsewhere.

This referendum also addresses an obsolete science lab, which was designed for the middle/high school when it was built in 1995. We can all agree that science and technology has vastly changed in 30 years. Yet the curriculum struggles with the same, limited labs, which create an inability for our children to explore science in ways students in other districts are.

The project also addresses the antiquated security doors on their exterior of the schools, which are so old that our maintenance staff can’t find replacement hinges. With voter approval, the district would also replace the old, torn seats in our community theater, some of which are no longer connected to the floor.

The schools would also have the money to replace the floor tiles throughout the middle/high school that are cracked, slanted and buckling, as well as all the broken school desks and many other items that have fallen into disrepair over the years of daily student use.

As you can see, we are not discussing luxuries. This is about ensuring our schools are safe, effective and comfortable places in which to learn and excel.

I know it is difficult to ask taxpayers for money, as this project will cost the average property owner about $40 a month. But, as real estate prices continue to rise in South Amboy, and more young families are attracted to our community, we must protect our collective investment by ensuring our school facilities are not in disrepair.

I have a mortgage here, I pay taxes here and, like many, my home is my greatest investment. I know that whoever purchases my home one day will want to know the quality of the schools, as well as the level of community support for public education.

South Amboy’s children do not deserve a school district with malfunctioning air conditioners and heating systems, leaking roofs, broken floors and doors, and a shortage of classrooms. We are better.

Elyse Leavy is a South Amboy resident,

Voters in the Flemington-Raritan and South Amboy school districts rejected referendums on Tuesday while referendums were approved in Somerville, North Brunswick, Manville and Warren.

Flemington-Raritan school district

Voters in Flemington and Raritan Township defeated a proposal to exceed the state's budget cap by $2.38 million to keep 30 teachers on staff and hire Class III security officers.

With 22.33% of eligible voters going to the polls, the proposal was defeated by a 2,745-to-2,183 margin.

Flemington voters approved the question 294-170 while Raritan Township voters defeated it, 2,575-1,889.

South Amboy school district

By a more than 2-to-1 margin, South Amboy voters turned down $35.65 million to fund renovations and improvements at South Amboy Elementary School and South Amboy Middle School/High School and an addition at South Amboy Elementary School.

The vote was 828-365.

Somerville school district

Borough voters approved two bond proposals. on Tuesday's ballot.

Voters approved the first bond question, 1,058 to 338, to spend $23.2 million for improvements, alterations and upgrades to the science labs and auditorium at Somerville High School; improvements, alterations, renovations, HVAC upgrades, partial roof replacement, main office alteration and an access chair with lift for a secure entry vestibule at the Middle School; improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades to the multi-purpose room at Van Derveer Elementary School; a new security vestibule at Van Derveer; natural and synthetic turf fields, site drainage and a storage building at Van Derveer.

By a narrower 788-to-601 margin, voters also passed the second bond question to spend $20.8 million for a gymnasium addition at the high school and related athletic spaces.

North Brunswick school district

Township voters approved two bond proposals. on Tuesday's ballot by a more than 3-to-1 margin

The first question, passed 1,837-557, asked for approval to spend $52.5 million for masonry work at North Brunswick High School and Linwood School and bathroom and HVAC improvements at John Adams Elementary School, Arthur M. Judd Elementary School, Livingston Park Elementary School, Parsons Elementary School, Linwood School and North Brunswick High School.

The second question, passed 1,828-562, proposed spending $11.28 million for replacement of windows and doors at John Adams, Arthur Judd, Livingston Park, Parsons, Linwood and the high school.

Manville school district

Voters gave a thumbs up by a 401-to-160 margin to spend $7.74 million for improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at Manville High School, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, Roosevelt School and Weston School.

Warren school district

Township voters voted 822-424 to approve $8.54 million for replacement of playground equipment at Angelo L. Tomaso, Mount Horeb, Central and Woodland and improvements, alterations and renovations and upgrades at Warren Middle School, Angelo L. Tomaso Elementary School, Mount Horeb Elementary School, Central Elementary School and Woodland Elementary School.

Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com

SOUTH AMBOY - Residents will vote March 11 on a $35.6 million school referendum that would fund additional classroom space to ease overcrowding and make critical health and safety repairs at South Amboy Elementary School and South Amboy Middle/High School.

The Board of Education says the work is designed to ensure the schools can accommodate future enrollment growth without major expansions or construction of a new school.

By approving the projects now, residents could avoid a bond referendum in the near future that would cost considerably more, South Amboy Schools Superintendent Frederick Williams said.

If approved, the Board of Education would issue bonds for $35,657,670 which would be paid back over 30 years. The total estimated annual cost to taxpayers would be $474.48 for the average house with an assessment of $274,817 in 2024.

The school district has been approved to receive state aid to help cover the debt service, totaling more than $9 million.

“Both school facilities are outdated and showing their age,” Williams said. “This proposed project streamlines the necessary work to ensure the schools can accommodate a 21^st Century curriculum in safe, comfortable and modern facilities.”

School officials said the proposed work will enhance the town and attract families.

“By offering better school facilities, positioned for long-term success, South Amboy will continue to attract families who want to live here, ensuring residential property values continue to grow,” said Board of Education Member Paula Taggart, chair of the Referendum Committee. “This school improvement project helps protect and nurture residents’ investments for when it is time to sell. I truly hope that many residents take the time to learn about this important plan and vote on March 11.”

At the South Amboy Middle/High School, leaking roofs, a broken HVAC system, old doors and crumbling floors are just some of the reasons why school officials are proposing significant renovations to the building.

The original HVAC system in the cafeteria no longer works, creating uncomfortable temperatures for students and staff in the warmer months.

In September, with temperatures hovering at 90 degrees, school officials needed to open the exterior doors in the cafeteria for air circulation, which created an unnecessary security risk.

School officials expected the same problem in late spring.

In addition, the other HVAC systems in the school are nearing the end of their lives and will need to be replaced.

The school district spends a considerable amount of money on repairs to 30-year-old HVAC systems and the expense will only grow.

Another problem area is the leaking roof in the community’s auditorium, as well as the many broken seats that were part of the original construction of the building.

School officials say there are also a growing number of roof leaks throughout the building. The original protective cover on the school roof dissolved over the years, forcing maintenance staff to regularly undertake emergency spot repairs. The entire roof needs to be replaced.

School officials are also concerned about the state of the exterior doors, which were part of the original construction. The doors surrounding all parts of the school are so old that replacement parts are no longer available, creating a potential and ongoing security issue for a building that serves students in grades 6-12. All original doors need to be replaced, according to the district.

The tiled floor throughout the school is cracking and sinking in places. The school district says this is not only a safety issue, but it will worsen over time, causing more expensive repairs if not repaired now.

In addition, the science labs need to be overhauled and renovated to meet current educational standards. The fixtures and equipment date to the opening of the school in the mid-1990s and can no longer serve the modern curricula.

The referendum will create more classrooms at the South Amboy Elementary School to help bring students who required specialized services back to the school district, instead of being enrolled in programs outside South Amboy, saving a substantial amount of money in tuition and transportation costs.

The extra classroom space will also be used for free, full-day pre-K programs for students ages 3-4, funded, in part, by state aid.

The referendum also would fund replacement of old windows and part of the roof, which were not completed in a capital improvement project a decade ago.

Updates about the referendum will be posted on the school website at sapublicschools.com.

Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com

Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.