MILLVILLE -- As the school
board begins the process of creating the state-mandated Long Range Facilities
Plan, they understand that future growth in the area will play a large
part in how this report will come together and just what will need to
be done to the district's facilities over the five-year life span of
this outline. "We want to make sure we have laid the foundation
for what we need," Board Member Kelli Nedohon said, adding that
the proposed changes to the city's demographics are going to be at least
30 percent of the plan. "We have to be ready for growth."
The purpose of the Long Range Facilities Plan is to address issues such
as the growing population, school programs, design issues and changes
to the community that will affect the schools. It also acts as a basis
for funding from the state.
"We want to hold on to the Abbott money," she said.
While the district can make modifications to this plan, Nedohon said
it is important to get it right the first time because it cannot be
changed substantially once it is submitted to the state in October.
Since the creation of this plan is such an involved process, the board
voted Monday to enter into a professional services contract with Garrison
Architects of Mount Laurel. Garrison will help the district prepare
the plan over the next few months.
The board opted to go with the firm, she said, because they were good
at what they did and they did their homework (in reference to the district
and its projected needs).
Nedohon said with growth and the city's demographics being such a large
portion of this plan, both the city and the school board have been working
together and sharing information about what is going on.
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