A bond referendum is a vote that gives the community a voice in whether the school district can borrow funds through bond sales to invest in school improvements. 

Voter approval of Glassboro’s bond referendum would: 

• Unlock $4.7 million in state aid (if voters approve all three questions) to offset the local costs of these projects. 

• Allow the district to borrow upfront funds to complete large-scale projects and spread the payments over time, similar to how a homeowner uses a line of credit to replace a roof or HVAC system. 

• Align our district’s infrastructure spending with our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.

The Board of Education sought community and professional input and thought carefully about which projects to include in the referendum.  

The district’s architect conducted a comprehensive review of the buildings to determine the district’s facilities needs.  A Referendum Citizens Advisory Committee composed of volunteers who represent a variety of facets of the community helped prioritize and trim down the list of projects, balancing the district’s and community’s needs. 

Guided by the feedback, priority projects that would support the district’s Strategic Plan and qualify for state aid were strategically selected to be included in our three questions on the ballot.

The district’s operating budget does the important job of funding day-to-day expenses such as salaries, benefits, maintenance and supplies. Bond funding, however, brings an advantage that the operating budget does not have. That advantage is state aid to cover a portion of the costs. Without that, the operating budget, which is funded by local tax dollars, would cover 100% of the costs with no help from state aid. A bond referendum is one way the Board of Education looks for funding outside the local tax base. 

The Glassboro Board of Education is committed to sharing accurate information about the bond referendum with the community leading up to the Nov. 4 vote. We encourage members of the community to visit this website frequently for updates and to attend community information forums. The district will share information through videos, public forums, flyers, local media, and social media. Please share this information widely and direct all questions to vote@gpsd.us.  

At a meeting on July 23, the Board of Education approved three ballot questions. The three-question approach allows voters to consider different levels of community investment and priorities. A list of the projects, costs and state aid associated with each question is available on the Funding page. 

• Question 1 includes priority facilities projects, such as enhancing security at Bullock, Rodgers, and Bowe; repairing and replacing roofing at the high school, Bullock, Rodgers, Bowe, and the administration building; fixing the bus canopy at the high school; upgrading HVAC in the current Music Tech room at the high school and rooftop units at Bullock; renovating the gym at Bowe; repairing underground piping at Rodgers; and adding two new classrooms at Rodgers. 

• Question 2 includes long-term facilities upgrades, such as enhancing security and improving the auditorium at the high school; upgrading the public address and clock system at Bullock; installing a new public address system in gym and cafe, adding a new driveway and parking, and constructing a nine-classroom addition for preschool; and replacing exterior doors at the Transportation Building. 

• Question 3 includes additional improvements at the high school, such as replacing exterior doors, adding bathrooms at the football stadium, and improving athletic field drainage. 

A full listing of all projects included in each question and what’s planned for the schools is available on the Proposed Projects page.

Some of the projects can’t wait -- they must be done whether or not voters approve the bond proposal.  

• Voter approval gives the district the added benefit of using state aid to help cover a portion of the project costs.  

• The district’s operating budget does not have enough wiggle room to cover the bare necessities plus those improvements at the pace that our district will need them.   

Here’s what to expect if voters don’t approve the referendum:   

• No $4.7 million in state aid toward these projects; taxpayers pay in full through local taxes. 

• Projects done in stages, with total project costs coming from the annual budget when funds are available. 

• Piecemeal repairs, which could cause higher costs in the long run.  

• Funds potentially diverted away from educational programs and/or staffing to support the most pressing facility needs.   

• Aging, obsolete HVAC systems and leaky roofing persist.

Many schools across the country are thinking about how best to protect students and staff, and Glassboro takes this very seriously. 
The proposal includes improving entryway security by adding a secure and contained check-in window at every school’s main entrance to match the level of security already being used at the high school. These types of entrances are becoming standard in school settings across the country, enabling visitors to be screened before they gain access to the main school. 

A new public address system would be installed to enhance communication methods on an everyday basis as well as in the event of an emergency.

The sale of the building was driven by two factors: a slow, steady decline in enrollment and the cost of maintaining an under-enrolled, 92-year-old building.  

The 92-year-old school building was sold for $3.4 million in 2022. The structure would have needed major renovations to meet the district’s preschool space needs, and to meet the state’s requirements (in-class restrooms, classroom size, accessibility) to continue receiving funding for the preschool program. 

The district also needs to increase its preschool capacity. Right now, the district serves a little less than half of the eligible children in Glassboro, but the state requires us to serve at least 90% to continue the program with state funding support.  

Increased enrollment in preschool will increase the amount of state aid our preschool program receives. These funds would be used for the operation of nine preschool classrooms for 3- and 4-year-olds. Operating costs are covered by the state funding.  

The district’s annual savings from selling the building is approximately $175,000 in operating and maintenance costs. The sale of the building and these annual savings made it possible to convert Bowe to better fulfill the district's middle school needs with no tax impact on residents.

A voter-approved referendum offers advantages that the annual budget does not, including:   

• Bond funding would allow the district to address the needs quickly, outside the annual budget, by accessing upfront funding and efficiently by capturing state aid to offset the project costs.  

• An expedited timeline: Any upgrades squeezed into the annual budget would have to be completed one-by-one over a long period of time, instead of uniformly across all schools.  

• Payments are spread over time, similar to how a homeowner uses a home equity loan to finance major improvements.  

• A specific type of state aid is unlocked and applied to qualifying projects; that state aid lessens the amount that lands on local tax bills.  

Every NJ taxpayer pays toward school improvements for districts across the state. Only districts that have a voter-approved bond referendum can get a share of those funds to invest in their schools. 

The district also has taken advantage of funding opportunities outside the budget, such as grants and aid. We will continue to seek funding opportunities and apply to those for which the district meets eligibility requirements.

By doing these projects as part of a bond referendum, the district qualifies for a type of state aid that it would not receive otherwise. That state aid is collected from taxpayers statewide and earmarked to be distributed to schools that receive approval to fund projects through a bond referendum. If voters approve all three questions in the proposal, the district would receive $4.7 million in state aid toward the total project costs of $24.5 million. 

The cost of the projects would be spread over 20 years among all residents who pay property taxes. 

With a bond referendum, the state offers the maximum amount of aid toward maintenance projects. Instead of paying full price for these items, Glassboro Public School District can get some of the costs for those improvements covered by state aid.  

Like a homeowner, the Board of Education performs regular maintenance and gets by with a repair-as-we-go approach for as long as we can. When the expense of emergency repairs outweighs those of equipment replacement, we look for a fiscally responsible, long-term solution for major upgrades. This is similar to the way a resident uses a home equity loan to make multiple large repairs or replacements. 

The district can’t spend more than the amount approved by voters in the bond referendum. That’s why the district worked with experts in the field to thoroughly research the projects and costs and include a contingency in the total. That cushion takes into account spikes that could occur if materials costs or interest rates rise. If actual costs exceed what voters approved, plans would have to be adjusted to fit the budget. 

The district can only borrow up to the amount approved by voters, and those funds can only be used for projects outlined in the bond proposal. Any funds that are not spent on referendum projects must be used to reduce property taxes. Those funds cannot be used for operating costs such as staffing and supplies. They cannot be used for projects that were not originally part of the referendum. 

Once a referendum passes, architects will dedicate the resources needed to develop detailed requests for contractors’ proposals. State law requires that the district award construction contracts through a competitive public bidding process. The work must be awarded to the lowest qualified bidder after voters approve a referendum.   

Contingency amounts are built into the project costs to account for potential changes in market conditions and other factors. The estimated costs may change once work is underway, but the district cannot spend any more on projects than the amount voters approved and cannot spend funds on projects other than those included in the referendum. The district and its professional consultants will make any necessary adjustments to ensure the projects stay within budget.  

The State of New Jersey has several programs that provide property tax relief for senior citizens or people with disabilities.  

A new one called Stay NJ reimburses up to half the property tax bill of eligible applicants. For 2024 tax filings, the benefit is capped at $6,500. The applicant's income cannot exceed $500,000. 

Another program known as the "Senior Freeze" holds property taxes at the rate that existed when the applicant became eligible for that program. Its income limit was raised to $168,268 for 2024 tax filings. Other current programs are the NJ $250 Senior Citizen Property Tax Deduction and the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR).  

As of 2025, these programs share a single application process. Learn more about these programs on the state’s website or by calling 800-882-6597. 

NOTE: Voters will be asked for permission to borrow the full amount of $24,496,000 because state aid is provided annually to offset the total bond payment of both principal and interest. Even though state aid will contribute toward that amount, the school district would be named as the debt holder, so voter approval is needed for the full amount.

Much like a homeowner would finance improvements through a home equity loan, the district would pay for projects by borrowing (through the sale of bonds) and spread those costs over the 20-year life of the loan. The amount to be repaid would be offset by approximately $4.7 million in debt service aid (state aid) and shared by all property owners in Glassboro.

Anyone registered to vote with a Glassboro address can participate in the Nov. 4 bond referendum, which will appear on the General Election ballot. If your name or address recently changed, please check whether your registration is still valid. Check your registration here.  

If it is not valid, you have until Oct. 14 to register. Online voter registration forms are available here, and printed forms for mailing are available in English and Spanish. 

Early Voting is available at specific times and locations. 

Early Voting Times: 

• Saturday, Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Sunday, Oct. 26 | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

• Monday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Wednesday, Oct. 29 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Thursday, Oct. 30 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Friday, Oct. 31 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Saturday, Nov. 1 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Sunday, Nov. 2 | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Early Voting Locations: 

• Gloucester County Complex (1200 N Delsea Dr., Clayton) 

• Logan Municipal Building (125 Main St., Bridgeport) 

• Monroe Public Library (713 Marsha Ave., Williamstown) 

• RCSJ Behavioral Science Center (1400 Tanyard Rd., Sewell) 

• Riverwinds Community Center (1000 Riverwinds Dr., Thorofare) 

For more information, visit the Gloucester County Election Division website. 

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. 

Polling locations: 

• Districts 1,5,6,8,9,11: Glassboro Memorial Post (VFW), 275 Wilmer St.  

• Districts 2,3,4,10,12: Healing Wings Church Hall, 520 E. Stanger Ave.  

• District 7: Delsea Manor Community Center, 181 Delsea Manor 

• District 13: Village Grande at Camelot Clubhouse, 2 Clubhouse Way  

If you do not know which is your polling location, check your sample ballot or use New Jersey’s Polling Place Search 

Vote By Mail is an option in this referendum. If you have already requested a ballot to be mailed to you and your address is unchanged, Gloucester County election officials will send you a Vote By Mail ballot automatically several weeks before the Nov. 4 vote date. To confirm your status for Vote By Mail, contact the County Election Division at (856) 384-4530 or (856) 384-4531. 

If you want to Vote By Mail but are not yet signed up, you can submit an application here. Additional information from the county is available here. 

When you receive your Vote By Mail ballot, fill it out and bring it to one of the drop box locations listed on this webpage no later than 8 p.m. on voting day. You can also mail it with a postmark date of Nov. 4. Or you can deliver it in person to the County Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m. before or on Nov. 4. It cannot be brought to a polling place. 

If you show up to your polling location on voting day and are told your ballot was mailed to you, or that you are not able to vote, ask for a provisional ballot. This ensures your ballot will be counted once all mailed ballots are double-checked and processed.