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Friday, November 15, 2002
By Theresa Katalinas tkatalinas@sjnewsco.com
WOOLWICH TWP. -- The board of education here plans to offer a $75,000
goodwill down payment on land earmarked for a future middle school.
Superintendent Terrence Crowley said the board has voted to propose
$900,000 as the purchase price for a 35-acre tract north of the existing
Kingsway Regional complex.
Crowley said previously that the school is overpopulated and touts a
10 percent growth each school year.
He said the board-approved down payment is necessary in preventing other
parties from purchasing the land. Under the pact, the district would
be required to supply the remaining $825,000 within one year.
The plan comes months after the Department of Education upheld decisions
in Swedesboro, Woolwich, East Greenwich and South Harrison townships
to cut $1 million from the 2002-2003 voter-defeated school budget.
If landowners Casella Brothers accept the offer, Crowley said the district
would construct a brand-new seventh- and eighth-grade middle school
able to house an estimated 800 students, to a design by Garrison
Architects of Mt. Laurel, who were the architects for the recent
addition..
"Our offer will be presented to the owners probably Monday,"
Crowley said Thursday. "Hopefully, we'll get a response in a week
or so."
Attorney Angelo Falciani, who is representing Casella Brothers, would
not comment on the possible transaction.
Crowley said it's too early to determine an overall cost, but said he
anticipates a voter referendum for a probable 25-year bond issuance.
Crowley said the one-year construction will follow four or five months
later.
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