Dear Residents:

On Tuesday, March 10, there will be a referendum that will allow voters to decide about whether or not the school district should proceed with a project that will increase safety and security in our schools.

In an effort to make this important work more affordable for taxpayers, the district applied for and received a grant from the state that will cover about 40 percent of the project cost. However, it is very important to note that this grant opportunity will expire at the end of the school year.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, the board contracted with Stone Gate Associates to provide recommendations for improving safety and security in the Wayne Township Public Schools. A thorough report was created and the projects included in the referendum are an outgrowth of this report. While it would not be appropriate to share the details of the report with the public due to the possibility of creating security issues, it is appropriate to share some details about the various types of projects to be undertaken.

If approved by voters, the district would contract for work in the following four areas:

* Communication - The district will upgrade and repair communication systems. Some of the communication systems are over 50 years old and well past the intended lifespan. The district is also looking to enhance cell phone coverage in the event that 9-1-1 calls must be made.

* Building access - The district will install systems to better regulate access to the buildings and monitor external doors. There are some doors that require replacement. The new doors will enhance security and meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Other doors will not be replaced, but will be improved with impact resistant glass.

* Technology - The district will install access control systems, additional security cameras, motion sensors, and panic alarm systems.

* Fire alarms -The district will update fire alarms systems.

The total cost of the referendum is $4,808,259. As mentioned, the district received a grant of $1,923,304 from the state, resulting in an actual cost of $2,884,955 for Wayne taxpayers. The cost of the project for taxpayers with an average assessed house of $228,200 would be $10.84 for the 2015-2016 school year with an average annual tax impact of $14.91.

I encourage all residents to vote on March 10. Polls will be open from 4 until 9 p.m. at all regular polling locations. Additional information is available on the district website (www.wayneschools.com).

Mark Toback

Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Normally, our Blackboard Connect messaging system is very reliable.  This winter, we certainly put the system to the test and it worked without fail.  Today, there was a technical problem and unfortunately, many parents did not receive a phone call about the school closing.  Even more confusing is the fact that many other people did receive phone calls.  We identified the problem and it is now fixed and hopefully nothing like this will happen in the future.  We apologize for any inconvenience.  We will be running a test in the near future to verify that the problem has been fixed.

Please be reminded that, if in doubt, there are other ways to determine if the start of school is delayed or if school is closed.  The website is updated with information about delays and closings and we also post information on Facebook.  We notify the major television stations.  The district also leaves a recording on our phone system if there is a delay or closing.

Yours truly,

Mark Toback

• Thursday, March 5th at 3:30pm (Dress rehearsal and tickets will be sold for this show at a reduced price of $3.00).