Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford unveils $55 million expansion plan

EAST RUTHERFORD — Henry P. Becton Regional High School has unveiled plans for a $55 million expansion to its campus that would add STEM labs, a facility to learn trade skills and increased resources for special education students, among other amenities.

“If we're going to do this and offer our students a unique experience, we're going to do it right,” Superintendent Dario Sforza said. "We're going to do it in a way that brings home all the students that never got the opportunity to take advantage of the programs we have here."

The school district aims to put the referendum before voters in March. If approved, it would be paid for through a 25-year bond.

East Rutherford and Carlstadt would pay $17.2 million each over the course of the borrowing, while Maywood would pay $15 million through tuition payments. Cash reserves from Becton Regional’s budget would cover another $6.2 million.

Overall, the expansion would cost taxpayers $176.17 annually in East Rutherford and $171.80 in Carlstadt, school officials said. On a monthly basis, the bill would come to $14.50 per month for each household in the district.

The project was unveiled to the public on Saturday morning during a time capsule event that celebrated the school’s 50 years with remarks from past and present students and staff. Included in the festivities was the opening of a time capsule that included Eisenhower silver dollars and newspapers from the 1970s.

"We currently have 21 staff members who all graduated from Becton," teacher Carlo Maucione said during the celebrations. "I have witnessed from both students and teacher perspective how much time, energy and love goes into each lesson and presentation to make sure our students leave stronger, prepared and confidant to face the world around them."

For a half-century, Becton Regional has been the home for East Rutherford and Carlstadt students in grades 9 to 12. Last year, the district added Maywood students, who had previously gone to Hackensack.

"You welcomed the Maywood kids with open arms and that is something that we can never repay," said Maywood Superintendent Michael Jordan during the Saturday morning event.

The new students, who are being brought in incrementally by grade each year, have given the school a financial boost and helped justify an upgrade to the facilities, Sforza said.

The student population is expected to grow to about 900 to 950 with the introduction of Maywood students and the potential retention of students, some of whom currently leave the district to attend other schools. Previously, the student population was about 480, said the superintendent.

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“As passionate as we are about students and education, what hurt us was our size,” said Sforza. “We wanted to give our students more, whether it be from advanced tech, medical and health sciences, computer aid, design, engineering or architecture.”

Sforza said being able to keep students in the district would save about $2.5 million to $3 million in out-of-district tuition costs, which make up about 20% of the school district’s annual budget. If the district doesn't expand and draw those students back, it’s estimated out-of-district tuition costs will reach $65 million to $70 million over the next 25 years.

The 90,000-square-foot expansion, if approved, would include an addition to the main high school building that would host six STEM industrial labs with a rooftop solar observatory.

Just across the street, a new building named the Bec Tech Vocational & Trades Building would allow students to learn about trades such as electrical, masonry, plumbing, automotive, HVAC, green construction, welding, carpentry and woodwork. The new vocational and trades program would give non-college-bound students an opportunity to explore more options, and give college-bound students a chance to blend learning from both fields of study.

"We're not a competition to the tech schools or other trade schools," said Sforza. "Our goal is to provide our students with hands-on trade and vocational experience... we are going to continue to push for college and university for the college-bound student, but we're also going to break the stigma that you must go to college."

Other additions to the campus would include a regulation-size community gymnasium, an expanded wellness center and sensory garden for autistic students. The project would also add an industrial culinary and baking kitchen and studio and cosmetology and fashion design studios.

Special education students would be able to utilize a full-scale apartment to learn life skills, along with therapy rooms, de-escalation rooms and classrooms for occupational, physical and speech therapy. A new life skills program would help special education students learn key skills through in-house job prep and inclusion programs.

The sensory garden for autistic students would honor of Javiera “Javi” Rodriguez, a Child Study Team case manager who championed the needs of such children for 10 years in the district before her death last year.

"It will cater to the needs of the students she advocated for and fought for every day," said Sforza. "It will include art and a place for students that allows them to be creative."

Additionally, there will be 200 and more community learning and presentation spaces for faculty, staff, students, and local community members to gather, including a Wildcat Community Cafe. A Veterans Memorial Plaza would honor alumni who served the country.

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com

Twitter: @snoda11

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Becton NJ High School unveils $55 million expansion plan