Plainfield BOE's Construction and Improvement Costs Were Approved Prior to Voter Approval? The BOE Must Clarify This Matter

Tuesday's school board agenda, page 57, has an item that called my attention as the item calls for "previously authorized certain capital projects" to be "reviewed as an "other capital project". 

"Other Capital Projects" legal definition on Education Title 6A is for projects not supported, or paid, by state funds.  We are an Abbott district, which means we are a district in need which gets 80% plus of its budget from state and federal funds, this also means that school construction and capital improvement projects are managed by the state's designated agency, Schools Development Authority (SDA).

Because it looks like the projects in question, 6 in total, were approved by the school board and not by the state's Facilities Division through the Long Range Facilities Plan the district is now requesting the NJDOE to have six school improvement projects be reviewed as "Other Capital Projects".

The Department of Education has a fairly comprehensive guide to school capital projects and what "Other Capital Projects" are HERE.

"Other Capital Projects" are supposed to required voter approval.  And yes, it seems that monies for these "Other Capital Projects" will have to be raised by the local school board via local property taxes. 

At this point I have not been able to locate the cost of all projects and since there have been more school improvement projects approved on the most recent months I am not sure if the most recent projects also will need to be treated as "Other Capital Projects" or not. 

I will try to get some answers on what happens next from the district, just don't hold your breath while I try.  The list of projects is below, I have added the cost information and the school board agendas where approval for these projects took place.  If you would like to lend your expertise and thoughts on this, please, by all means, send them via the comments' box or to pellum9@aol.com.

1.  $165,000.00* PHS Cafeteria HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System)
     *Estimated Cost. August 16, 2011 BOE Agenda, page 44

2.  $259,000.00 PHS Domestic Hot Water Heater
     June 21, 2011 BOE Agenda, page 129

3. $229,622.00 Hub Stine Storage Building
    October 18, 2011 BOE Agenda, page 77

*4. PHS Window and Exterior Door Replacement

*5. Barlow Cafetorium Addition and Gymnasium Renovation

*6. Woodland Cafetorium Addition

*The September 20th, 2011 BOE agenda (page 63) has a resolution that documents projects 4,5 & 6.
On December 20th, 2011 the school board adopted specifications for school construction for both Barlow and Woodland, Dan Damon covered that school board meeting, his post included the estimated cost of both projects HERE.