RECAP: Yorkshire Village Meeting & The Special LTPS Referendum - Voter Information
- Yorkshire Village Master Assoc
- Jan 19, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 29, 2020
A meeting was held for Yorkshire Village residents at our clubhouse on Wed., 1/17/18. Dr. Andrew Zuckerman of the Lawrence Township Public Schools discussed and addressed questions about the upcoming Lawrence Township Referendum vote - as detailed here and in the flyer below - to help us learn more about where our tax dollars would go. Included is also a recap of the Q&A (referendum and school topics) for those who could not attend.
From the meeting...
Dr. Andrew Zuckerman presented the information on the January 2018 Special Referendum sheet and addressed the following questions:
Since Lawrence Township technically has no “school tax”, and all taxes for the schools fall under “property tax”, will all monies from the property tax increase (if the referendum passes) go directly to the schools? Will the township keep any of that?
Yes-all monies raised through the referendum will be allocated to the schools.
How long will it take to complete all the projects proposed in the referendum?
Approximately, 3 years.
What happens if, during the renovations, unexpected issues arise and the estimated project cost rises beyond the referendum budget, will taxpayers be asked to pay more?
No- the School Board has meticulously gone through the costs and estimates, but if anything unexpected does happen, there is a contingency amount built into the budget. Beyond that, the schools would look to reallocate funds among the projects.
The BOE is proposing this referendum’s list of projects. Did the schools’ administration have input on the actual changes needed in their respective schools?
Yes.
One of the referendum items is the installation of security vestibules in the schools currently without them. How does a vestibule increase safety?
Vestibules, like the one at the high school, create an additional check point before actually allowing anyone into the building. They also provide a means to slow down unwanted intruders as the school security protocols are initiated. The material for the vestibule will either be shatter proof glass or bulletproof glass.
One of the referendum items is the installation of an elevator at the Middle School, why just this school?
All schools are already equipped with elevators except for the middle school and a few district elementary schools. At the elementary school level, students may be moved to other elementary schools to better accommodate their needs. At the middle school level, there is only one school.
One of the referendum items is the installation off air conditioners. Why has it taken so long to address it if it’s so important?
Updates to school buildings been an ongoing process.
How many votes are needed for the referendum to pass?
There is no specific number – needed is just one more Yes than No.
What happens if the referendum does NOT pass?
At the discretion of the Board of Education (BOE), the referendum may be revised and presented again at a later time.
Non-referendum questions and comments that were addressed:
There is a referendum for physical school improvements, however, will there be any focus on academic improvements such as new school programs?
Adding courses comes under operational cost not capital improvement. New courses are added as needed/requested, and there hasn’t been any additional cost required. New courses replace old courses so that teachers and resources are reallocated.
How can we find out about high school course offering this summer? Is it true that some classes can be completed through online courses?
As the LTPS Instructional Supervisor, Dr. Andrew Zuckerman can be emailed directly (AZuckerman@ltps.org) if there is a specific course you would like to inquire about. Online courses are an option, although classroom lessons are preferred.
There should be greater involvement and “school spirit” from the schools and parents in non-athletic clubs and activities such as Model UN, Science Olympiad, Debates, etc..
Noted by Dr. Zuckerman - Some suggestions from residents:
Clubs to host meetings where parents are invited; informed parents will be more likely to offer support.
Give more support to the advisors who run the programs; advisors should be asked of what they need to succeed (provide a wish list).
Parents would like to see more parent orientations with regards to Naviance and the college planning processes.
Noted by Dr. Zuckerman
LHS Guidance office – some counselors are not very involved or lack knowledge. How and to whom do we address these concerns and issues?
David Adam
LHS Principal
dadam@ltps.org
(609) 671-5510
Melanie Fillmyer
Supervisor of Guidance
mfillmyer@ltps.org
(609) 671-5458.
