Nestled on the third floor of the historic Education Center at the former Beech School, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein methodically works on school issues large and small. An elevator ride up to his corner office takes you past the open public meeting space and transformed classrooms to his cozy yet spacious workspace.

Fishbein squeezed in an interview with Ridgewood Patch that I hoped would go beyond the frequently asked questions issued and updated by the school district. What do the questions regard? The $48 million bond initiative to be decided by voters in a special election Dec. 8.

"The board and administration have done a lot of work—we've done our homework—and we feel this moves our facilities in the right direction to educate our students in the district the best way possible," Fishbein said.

Two weeks from today, voters will approve or reject a $36-million referendum publicly financed by Ridgewood residents—the other $12 million derives from state funding. Although the scope of the ballot measure is wide, generally it seeks expansions to four schools, renovations to most facilities, and improvements—including the installation of artificial turf—to athletic fields.

If voters approve the measure, an average household's property taxes will increase by about $300 annually. If rejected, the Board of Education would eventually present an amended referendum and possibly forfeit some or all of its state aide.

Most of that information has been shared in several public and private forums, through local media outlets, and disseminated by numerous documents available on the district's Web site.

Still, certain questions raised by the public linger, and Fishbein discussed them with Ridgewood Patch.

Why now?

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce recently counted some 50 vacant storefronts throughout the village, unemployment has hit double-digit figures—surely the school regrets the timing, right?

Well, this process didn't start yesterday. In March 2007, Ridgewood High School—built in 1919 and renovated throughout the last century—received a facilities evaluation that recommended roughly $18 million in updates. Since then, the district has compiled improvements for all nine village schools, written grants intended to save resident's money, and worked with the county to setup a referendum vote, which costs the school district about $50,000.

Bottom line—this didn’t spring up over night. The proposed referendum is a potential solution to combat deteriorating facilities and increased class sizes that have accrued over time.

"Our enrollment trends aren't dramatic, but they've creeped up," Fishbein said. "When you stop to look at it, we really shouldn't have been partitioning rooms, holding classes in wide hallways."

Voters, as always, have the option to reject the district's proposals. If voted against, the board would hold public meetings to decide what stays and what goes. Some people question the necessity for the estimated $816,000 for air conditioner installation at Benjamin Franklin Middle School's auditorium, or the $5.3 million in field wellness projects.

Fishbein points to the potentially vanishing state aide:

"People may not agree with all parts, but $12 million is from the state," he said. "Would they rather pass $36 million of $48 million and disagree with parts, or [pay] $43 million of $43 million and have those parts taken out?"

Wouldn't opening Glen School be a way to avoid expansions?

Glen School, currently a RED school and infant toddler development facility, has come up as a middle ground for some. Individuals argue that, through redistricting, class-crowding issues would lessen by sending students there.

At minimum expansion projects to Willard, Hawes, and Ridge elementary schools could be wiped out. Based on estimated project costs, provided by a board-issued spreadsheet, if eliminated, those projects would knock off $13.9 million from the referendum.

However, Fishbein said that view doesn't account for renovations that would be needed at Glen.

"Glen hasn't been updated. There's no cafeteria, no media center, no art room. All things we expect in an educational facility Glen lacks," Fishbein said.

Those new Glen costs would be added to remaining fees needed at all facilities.

In 1999 and 2002, Ridgewood passed bond referendums, what's there to stop another special election from happening in the future?

Nothing.

State law caps annual school budgets to increase at most by four percent. Ridgewood allots roughly $2 million annually in maintenance and improvements.

"We understand the cap and its intention to prevent property taxes from being raised," Fishbein said. "In reality, $2 million is a lot, but not enough to get things done."

The nature of the educational system, Fishbein said, is a system that quickly changes. He pointed to new emphasis on smaller classrooms, technological expansions, and even tendencies to drive instead of walking to school as aspects that cost money.

"Education changes as society changes. We have to adapt our spaces accordingly."

Therefore, every so often, districts put capital projects they deem necessary to a vote and hope their district members agree with them. If not, it's back to the drawing board…

Fishbein and the board invite residents to tour the school district's facilities Nov. 30 before attending another public discussion on the referendum at George Washington Middle School. For more information, click here.