School districts all over New Jersey voted on bond referenda on Tuesday, March 8.
School districts all over the state held special school elections Tuesday evening to vote on millions of dollars in educational funding. Projects ranged from artificial turf fields to multi-story additions and facility upgrades. Below are the results, organized by county.
Note: This list will be updated as results are returned.
Hasbrouck Heights voters were asked to approve or reject $6.7 million in upgrades. The proposal carried by a slim margin.
The Northern Valley Regional district also voted on upgrades, which ranged from renovations of both high schools to the creation of a forensic lab for a total of $11.7 million.
Voters in the Haddonfield public school district were presented with a $35.2 million bond. The funding, spread out over three questions, included one $30.2 million proposal for security and HVAC upgrades, along with widespread structural work in the district. A second $3.6 million question sought to add air conditioning to portions of academic buildings. A third covered repairs to the high school stadium and track.
School officials reported at 10 p.m. that the proposals all had been approved. Proposal 1 passed with 2,264 votes to 1,303; Proposal 2 was approved with 2,148 votes to 1,393; Proposal 3 carried with 2,026 votes to 1,510 .
Voters in Middle Township were asked to decide on $21.3 million in new classrooms, a new gymnasium and a new health office, as well as a new transportation building and structural repairs throughout the district. A second question, with a total cost of $3.3 million, would pay for athletic and recreational upgrades, including new grass fields, concessions, storage and restrooms, along with parking upgrades.
By 10 p.m., Question 1 passed with 977 assenting votes to 349 dissenting, while Question 2 passed by a vote of 779 to 536.
Voters served by the Deptford Township, Monroe Township and Kingsway Regional school districts voted on a total of $125 million in bond referenda. The Kingsway district sought $12 million, Monroe Township voted on $15 million and Deptford, with far and away the largest bond, sought $97 million. All three Gloucester County referenda failed.
The Matawan-Aberdeen school district had two proposals, both of which were approved. One reserved $13.4 million for various improvements throughout the district.
The second bond proposal, written to go into effect only if the first proposal were approved, authorized an additional $6.4 million in HVAC improvements at the aforementioned schools.
Residents served by the Eagleswood school district were asked to decide on two proposals: one for $2,815,510 for site improvements and renovations, and a second proposal of $1,577,000 for a building addition. The second proposal was contingent upon voters approving the first.
The Island Heights school district voted on $2,992,252 in various improvements and renovations to Island Heights Elementary School.
Both the Island Heights and Eagleswood proposals passed.
Somerset County referenda included an $18.5 million spending plan in Montgomery Township, a $2 million referendum in Hillsborough Township and a $941,000 referendum for the Watchung Hills Regional High School district.
The Lopatcong Township school district asked voters to decide on $600,000 in funding to retain eight teaching positions and programs, maintain class size and add to its fund balance next year. Voters rejected the Lopatcong referendum.