Schools

Fields Moving Toward January Referendum Vote

Superintendent says plans are on track for residents to decide fate of athletic improvements at the high schools.

Parsippany Superintendent of Schools LeRoy Seitz says plans are falling in place to achieve a January referendum in which voters will decide whether to go ahead with athletic improvements at and high schools. He talked about the 's version of the project once known as Fields of Dreams at the Thursday school board meeting.

Seitz told the State Department of Education gave the district an extension on the July 26 deadline to submit plans for fields improvements, which he said means a January referendum is still possible.

He said the first draft of the plans will be delivered to the district Monday and the he will meet with the architects at that time. The superintendent recommended that the board's Buildings and Grounds and Sports committees review the proposal. Afterward, Seitz said the school board would go over dollar amounts involved, probably at the body's Aug. 23 meeting.

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"We will schedule a special [school board] meeting for the board to talk with band boosters and athletic programs to discuss the proposed referendum, the costs, and the impact for the average homeowner," he said, adding that the meeting would take place prior to the Aug. 23 gathering. "We would ask the board at August meeting to review those plans."

Seitz said the township Planning Board would also have the opportunity to see what is on tap.

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"The Planning Board doesn't approve or disapprove," he said. "It merely comments and recommends."

He said the special board meeting would include the public.

"At that meeting, we will make adjustments and approve and submit plans," said the superintendent. 

Seitz said he hopes to have athletic-improvement plans finalized in September.

"We should be on track to get Department of Education approval," he said.

Board member Michael Strumolo wondered why the referendum could not be held in November "during the presidential election, when turnout will be the most."

"The state has established deadlines for submitting referendum projects," explained Board Attorney Kathleen Gilfillan. "It wasn't possible to make the deadline for the November or December [referendum dates]."

Strumolo said he was determined to get the referendum on the November ballot. To that end he announced that he wanted legal opinions in writing from the state and the attorney regarding the possibility of having the fields vote take place in November.

Member Fran Orthwein chided her colleague.

"After four years on the board, you surely must realize by now that the state's deadlines can slow us down," she said. "We all would like to get this in front of the voters as soon as possible."

When member Susy Golderer asked about the new deadline for submitting plans to the Department of Education, Seitz said there was no specific date given. 

"But if we give it to the state by Aug. 24, the day after the August meeting, they said that would be acceptable," he said. "This provides opportunities for the board and [and residents] to provide input before the board makes a final decision."


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