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WOODBINE - The borough is asking the state for $500,000 in grants to replace the roof and heating system in the elementary school and keep the district from having to borrow $6 million in December.

The Board of Education will have a special election Dec. 8 to ask voters to borrow $6 million to improve the school. Under the plan, the state will pay 58 percent of the principal and interest on the bonds over 15 years. The remainder would be paid through solar credits and the district budget through savings in utility bills.

But Mayor William Pikolycky wants the board to postpone the referendum. He said the borough administration is putting together a plan to use state or federal grants to make the repairs to the school, much like it did when the school built a $5 million addition.

"We have a proven record. We haven't even looked at stimulus money. There are all kinds of funds," he said. "The last resort should be to borrow money and put taxpayers on the hook."

Pikolycky said the borough could leverage the $500,000 in grants from the state Department of Community Affairs to get $1.2 million for the school repairs.

Superintendent Lynda Anderson-Towns could not be reached for comment Monday. But in a detailed presentation last month to Borough Council, the Board of Education outlined its plans to upgrade the school's electrical, heating and air conditioning systems.

Some classrooms have just two electrical outlets, making it difficult for teachers to incorporate some electronics or computers in their lesson plans.

Meanwhile, the roof on the 1965 school needs replacing.

Under the board's proposal, the district would apply savings from its monthly utility bills along with solar credits to pay off the bonds without raising local taxes.

Pikolycky said the state Board of Public Utilities offers some grants to make public buildings more energy efficient. The district hopes to replace windows, lighting and the old boiler.

Contact Michael Miller:

609-463-6712

MMiller@pressofac.com

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