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Brandywine
School District is asking residents to approve the sale of $38.4
million worth of long-term bonds over a period of five years to
finance the gutting and total renovation of five schools and
significant capital projects at three others. A separate
question will seek authorization for the sale of additional
bonds -- the total amount has not yet been determined but it
will be in the range of $1 million -- to pay for installation of
running tracks at the district's three high school.
Under
the Delaware system, voters determine whether they are willing
to assume the obligations which follow the selling of bonds.
Contrary to what frequently is said and reported, they do not
vote on a tax rate as such. That is set each year by the school
board, based on what is necessary to provide adequate revenue to
pay interest on all the bonds and principle on those scheduled
for redemption. Voters also do not approve or disapprove the
building plan or any part of it. That is done by the school
board, subject to approval by Delaware Department of Education.
Those steps have already been taken.
The
referendum is scheduled for Thursday, May 31. Any district
resident age 18 and older is eligible to vote. It is not
necessary that a voter own property or be registered to vote in
general elections. Owners of business or commercial properties
are not eligible to vote unless they are district residents. The
referendum is conducted by the state Department of Elections for
New Castle County. Polling places will be announced. A simple
majority of 'yes' votes (50% of those voting + 1) is required
for the bond issue and the building program to go forward.
If that
happens, the state of Delaware will match the Brandywine
contribution for the building program with $57.8 million to meet
the total authorized cost of those projects, $95,993,100. There
will be no state money provided for the tracks. State law
provides for the 60-40 match. The state money is authorized in
the capital budget, commonly known as the annual bond bill,
enacted by the General Assembly in June. That is financed also
by short- and long-term borrowing with state taxpayers bearing
the cost of debt service.
It is
anticipated that local debt service, assuming a
6½% interest rate on the bonds will require annual increases in
the debt service portion of Brandywine's tax rate over the next
five years, followed by annual decreases as bonds are paid off.
However, selling additional bonds during those years to finance
another phase of building would require increases. The present
capital rate is 4¢ for each
$100 of assessed property value. It would go to 5.13¢ next year
and, in subsequent years, to 9.99¢, 13.18¢, 15.85¢ and 17.97¢.
The current total rate is 92.9¢, most of which finances
salaries, materials and other elements of current operations.
The
pending building plan constitutes the second phase of a
long-term building modernization program. The first phase,
authorized by voters in November, 1993, resulted in the
renovation of Carrcroft, Darley Road and Maple Lane Elementary
Schools and Mount Pleasant and Brandywine High Schools. With
completion of that phase in September, 1998, the district had
intended to move forward with the second phase. A referendum
planned for March, 1999, was cancelled, however, because of the
release of an unfavorable report on a state audit of district
finances. Since then, the plan has been modified, with the
principal change being the dropping a proposal to build a new
elementary or intermediate school in north Wilmington to replace
now-closed Burnett Intermediate School. A third phase of
building to follow the second one has been discussed, but no
specific actions in that regard have been taken.
Information
in the following table is, for the most part, from the
certificate of necessity issued by DelDOE on Nov. 11, 2000.
|
The
Brandywine building plan |
| Harlan
Intermediate School |
The
library at Harlan used to be a 'mud room'. |
Built
in 1932, the Harlan, on Jefferson Street between
36th and 38th Streets in north Wilmington, is
the second oldest building in the district and
the oldest school in continuous use.
Renovations
will include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements and plumbing systems, renovations
to meet current building codes and life and
safety issues. Renovations will also include
roofing, interior and exterior renovations,
walls, ceilings, doors and frames. The
modernization will facilitate the initiation or
upgrade of the school's instructional and
management technology, integrated
heating-ventilation-air conditioning systems and
controls and an integrated communications
network. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| June, 2001 |
June, 2002 |
September, 2003 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $5,207,500 |
$7,811,200 |
$13,018,700 |
|
|
|
| Concord
High School |
Part
of the exterior wall at Concord is said to be
bulging. |
Although
the newest building in the district, opening in
1970, Concord, on Ebright Road just north of
Naamans Road, is said to have structural
deficiencies and needs to be brought into line
with current educational standards.
Renovations
will include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements |
|
and
plumbing systems, renovations to meet current
building codes and life and safety issues.
Renovations will also include roofing, interior
and exterior renovations, walls, ceilings, doors
and frames. Renovations will also facilitate the
initiation and upgrading of the school's
instructional, management and communications
technology. Asbestos abatement and accessibility
issues will also be addressed.
Students
would be housed during construction in a cluster
of modular classrooms, but the district has not
obtained authorization from DelDOE to have the
cost of those units included in the 60-40 split. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| June, 2001 |
June, 2003 |
September, 2004 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $10,357,200 |
$15,535,700 |
$25,892,800 |
|
|
|
| Forwood
Elementary School |
|
Forwood
is located in North Graylyn Crest and
characterized by a large playground. It was once
part of a complex that also included a junior
high school where Forwood Manor retirement
facility is now located.
Renovations
will include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements and plumbing systems, renovations
to meet current building codes and life and
safety issues. Renovations will also include
roofing, interior and exterior renovations,
walls, ceilings, doors and frames. The
modernization will facilitate the initiation or
upgrade of the school's instructional and
management technology, integrated
heating-ventilation-air conditioning systems and
controls and an integrated communications
network.
Although
they are not included in the DelDOE certificate,
the district has said in other material that it
intends to include additional classroom and
office space in the project. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| June, 2003 |
June, 2004 |
September, 2005 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $3,882,800 |
$5,824,100 |
$9,706,900 |
|
|
|
| Lombardy
Elementary School |
Because
of crowding, some Lombardy students are housed
in modular classrooms at the rear of the
building. |
Lombardy
is located off Foulk Road opposite Deerhurst.
Renovations
will include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements. The modernization will facilitate
the initiation or upgrade of the school's
instructional and management technology,
integrated heating-ventilation-air conditioning
systems and controls and an integrated |
|
communications
network. In addition to general renovations,
this project includes an additional four
classrooms, additional administrative space and
an outside storage structure. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| June, 2003 |
June, 2004 |
September, 2005 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $3,040,900 |
$4,561,400 |
$7,602,400 |
|
|
|
| Talley
Middle School |
|
Talley
is in Ramblewood, just north of Naamans Road and
adjacent to Bechtel County Park.
Renovations
will include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements and plumbing systems, renovations
to meet current building codes and life and
safety issues. Renovations will also include
roofing, interior and exterior renovations,
walls, ceilings, doors and frames. The
modernization will facilitate the initiation or
upgrade of the school's instructional and
management technology, integrated
heating-ventilation-air conditioning systems and
controls and an integrated communications
network. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| June, 2004 |
June, 2005 |
September, 2006 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $7,049,400 |
$10,574,100 |
$17,623,500 |
|
|
|
| Mount
Pleasant Elementary School |
|
Mount
Pleasant Elementary is on Duncan Road, east of
Philadelphia Pike and just north of Bellefonte.
Built in 1932 as a comprehensive school with
grades one through 12 and renovated in 1987, the
building also houses the Edgemoor Community
Center, which a few years ago modernized and
added onto its end of the building.
Renovations
will include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements and plumbing systems, renovations
to meet current building codes and life and
safety issues. Renovations will also include
roofing, interior and exterior renovations,
walls, ceilings, doors and frames. The
modernization will facilitate the initiation or
upgrade of the school's instructional and
management technology, integrated
heating-ventilation-air conditioning systems and
controls and an integrated communications
network.
District
material also refers to restoration of the
auditorium.
Although
the work planned is relatively extensive, it is
intended that it be done without having to
located students in temporary facilities. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| January, 2002 |
June, 2002 |
September, 2004 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $4,939,400 |
$7,409,200 |
$12,348,600 |
|
|
|
| Mount
Pleasant High School |
|
Modernized
during the 1995-96 academic year as part of the
first phase of the long-term building plan,
Mount Pleasant, on Washington Street Extension
north of Marsh Road, requires window replacement
and other work that was cut from the original
project when an unexpected increase in labor
cost -- to meet a requirement that contractors
pay prevailing wages -- escalated total cost
beyond the approved budget.
Renovations
include interior and exterior renovations,
heating-ventilation-air conditioning systems
replacement and or repair and roofing.
Students
will not be relocated while work is under way. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| January, 2002 |
June, 2002 |
September, 2003 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $1,236,800 |
$1,855,300 |
$3,092,100 |
|
|
|
| Claymont
Intermediate School |
The
empty swimming pool at Claymont now holds a
variety of furniture and other stored
material. |
Claymont
Intermediate, on Green Street at Seminole
Avenue, is in the building which formerly housed
Claymont High School.
According
to the DelDOT certificate, renovations will
include the replacement and or upgrading of
building mechanical and electrical systems,
altering, modifying or repairing the facility
and site to meet current building code
requirements and plumbing systems, renovations
to meet current building codes and life and
safety issues. Renovations will also include
roofing, interior and exterior renovations,
walls, ceilings, doors and frames. The |
|
modernization
will facilitate the initiation or upgrade of the
school's instructional and management
technology, integrated heating-ventilation-air
conditioning systems and controls and an
integrated communications network.
Information
from the district refers to reopening the former
high school's swimming pool, closed several
years ago after failing a Division of Public
Health inspection, and renovations to the
auditorium, gymnasium and local room as well as
window replacement.
Students
will not be relocated while work is under way. |
| Planning
start |
Construction |
Completion |
| January, 2003 |
June, 2003 |
September, 2004 |
|
| Local
cost |
State
cost |
Total
cost |
| $2,683,200 |
$4,024.900 |
$6,708,100 |
|
|
|
| The
entire program |
| Planning start |
Construction |
Completion |
Local cost |
State cost |
Total cost |
| June, 2001 |
June, 2002 |
September, 2006 |
$38,397,200 |
$57,595,900 |
$95,993,100 |
|
| Running
tracks |
Puddles
remain on the running track at Brandywine High's
Von Stetten Stadium long after the rain has
gone. The compact clay surface of the track is
said to be dangerous for student athletes. |
In
a last-minute compromise to avoid a public
controversy over the possible elimination of
renovations to the Claymont swimming pool from
the program, the district decided to make a
separate issue about whether to install
all-weather running tracks at Brandywine,
Concord and Mount Pleasant High Schools. Voters
will decide that separately.
A
financial review taskforce included tracks among
its recommendations, stating: "The
district's athletic facilities and playgrounds
have deteriorated over the years and, in many
ways, appear below the standards of other
districts in Delaware. ... The high schools also
lack |
| facilities
for athletes to practice field events and other
playing fields at many buildings need grading.
... School playgrounds are also in need of
attention and repair."
District
officials have promised to soon provide
additional information about that aspect of the
referendum proposals. |
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