JERSEY SHORE — The Jersey Shore School Board may have voted earlier this year, although not unanimously, to keep all schools open, but they were hit with a dose of reality at their meeting this week when it was revealed that the price tag for the needed maintenance on some of the district’s buildings could be costly.

“If we want to do any of this stuff, it’s going to come with a financing conversation,” Superintendent Dr. Brian Ulmer informed the board of the recommendation from a recent Capital Projects committee meeting.

The conversation about financing had come up at the board meeting following a presentation by PMF Financial about the current bond market.

There was no total amount attached to what would need to be done to maintain all of the district’s buildings because SitelogIQ, the facility planning, design and management company, has not yet determined what those needs are. But, a representative from the company placed the cost for work at the middle school at $3.6 million and after conferring with the administration about the other buildings, SitelogIQ estimated a $9 million price tag to do critical repairs and maintenance.

“I believe that it’s inevitable that at some point we are going to need to borrow money to do some of the projects that we’re faced with, the ones that are on higher alert. I mean, at some point in time it’s inevitable. And I realize that I think the question is, is this the right time? I don’t think any of us can honestly answer that because we don’t know the future. But in past votes over the past year it’s been a lot of spending and I just don’t see where this board is interested in cost savings. Not like I am and I know a few others that are absent tonight,” said board member Michelle Stemler.

Board member Wayne Kinley who has been very vocal in championing cost-saving measures was absent from the meeting.

When asked what his opinion was on the possibility of the district taking on more debt, Ben Enders, district business manager, said that he had concerns about the facilities.

“I’m very concerned about the middle school. I walk through that building and I shudder. My other concern is the high school being the box on top of the box. The core of the high school has yet to be touched. So that concerns me and the high school is knocking on the door of their 40th anniversary,” he said.

“I’m very concerned about those two buildings,” he added.

Ulmer echoed those concerns.

“My concern is the things that are on that priority list, and we’re not going to put in new floors and we’re going to paint. The things on that priority list are HVAC systems. They’re very critical. Like if they go down we’re not having school. I’m not talking about wanting it to look pretty and I want to paint it and I want to put in a new floor. I’m talking about if we don’t have heat, we’re not having school. We’re talking about systems that haven’t been touched in 40 years. And those are the priorities,” Ulmer said.

“We even went to the person who inspects the boilers and asked the question, what is your estimate on what’s left and the answer was along the lines of, you should just be happy you got this far. That’s not the answer that you want to hear, but it’s our reality, and it’s where we are…I’m not saying this because I’m trying to push you in a direction. I know there’s a financial cost, but it also could be a really devastating response if something goes poorly. So I’m trying to make sure you have all the information,” he said.

Several board members stated that they wanted more information in writing before considering moving forward with seeking financing for any projects.

The public was unhappy when they heard that the district might need to take on more debt to maintain the buildings. Some comments brought the current discussion back to a decision made about not closing schools.

District resident Steve Helm reminded the board of their responsibility to taxpayers when making decisions.

“You can borrow money, borrow the money that comes out of everybody’s pockets here and out in your community,” Helm said.

Helm told the board that perhaps they should have voted on Option C to close Salladasburg Elementary School.

“We voted with our emotions and we got the option C. Option C had costs associated with it as well. We’re keeping buildings open and now we have to look at how we’re going to fix, repair and maintain these buildings. Realistically, if you had shrunken down your footprint of buildings it would be a smaller scope of a project,” Helm said.

“Maybe we do need to shrink down our footprint. Maybe we need to revisit some of those ideas and concepts. Maybe we need to listen to the people that we employ and save a lot of money to make those recommendations based on the number of students and so on. You have people in place, they made recommendations, you went against them and now we are going to have to fund them. So you’ve got to figure that all out,” Helm said.

In other actions under personnel, the board approved several sports coaches for the 2023-24 season. The following have been hired for the position and stipend listed, if applicable: Chris Lorson, head middle school softball coach, $2,819; Joe Miller, assistant middle school softball coach, $2,075; Nicolette Russell, head middle school cheer coach, $2,517; Laura Eck, assistant middle school cheer coach, $2,059; Jeremy Tyson, assistant middle school football coach, $3,163; Michael Schall, head girls’ varsity basketball coach, $7,661; Kalob Thomas, first assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach, $3,677; Aubree Leone, volunteer wrestling coach; James Reichard, Frank Stetts, Heidi Russell, Justin Ulsamer and Hailey Stetts, volunteer softball coaches.

Other personnel items approved included the appointments of: Jessica Lowe as a full-time paraprofessional; Jennifer Ross, middle school learning support paraprofessional, $23,366; and the transfer of Caden Carson from technology intern to a technology co-op student to be paid $12 per hour.

The board accepted the resignation of Hayden Swartwood as a volunteer wrestling coach and Darcie Jones, high school CTE teacher.

The pay rates for the 21st Century After School program were set at $31 per hour for the professional staff and $15 per hour for support staff. Grant monies are used for this.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the district board room, 175 A&P Drive.