Restore - Expand - Protect
HVRSD Bond Referendum
Voters Decided – HVRSD Bond Referendum denied
Preliminary results indicate that voters denied the Hopewell Valley Regional School District proposal to Restore, Expand and Protect our schools.
The tally as of Tuesday night included 3,204 votes opposed and 1,473 in favor. Totals will be updated over the next few days as officials count mail-in ballots that were postmarked by the referendum date and verify provisional ballots.
The district administration and Board of Education thank residents who took the time to learn about the referendum and to vote. Our building needs remain and we face tough decisions to address those challenges. We will carefully consider how to balance those needs with programming needs.
The plan for a bond referendum is driven by budget concerns and focused on the future.
Hopewell Valley Regional School District unites our communities. Together, we engage students to reach their fullest potential, and we foster excellence in education so they can make positive impacts in the world.
Upholding this standard requires providing well-maintained, financially efficient, and optimally sized schools. Our children learn in these spaces daily, and they deserve adequate and flexible areas to grow and succeed.
On Tuesday, September 17, the HVRSD Board of Education will ask the community to vote on a bond referendum that proposes an $87.2 million investment to restore, expand, and protect our schools. State aid of more than $20 million is committed toward that, meaning local taxes would not pay the full amount.
WHAT IS THIS VOTE?
A bond referendum is a public vote. This type of vote asks the community whether a school district can sell bonds to finance large-scale projects that do not fit into the annual operating budget. School districts in New Jersey pursue this financial strategy for several reasons:
Help spread the cost of maintenance projects over time and make it more affordable for taxpayers
Tap into more than $20 million in state aid that is only available to districts with approved bond proposals
HVRSD hosted a hybrid event on September 9 to provide additional information about the proposal to community members and answer questions.
Watch the recording to get an overview. You can also learn more about the event's key takeaways on the Town Hall page.
HVRSD also hosted an online presentation on May 16 to explain the referendum plan and answer community questions. You can watch that earlier recording here.
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?
The district’s administration and facilities department thoroughly researched HVRSD's pressing needs. As we strive to maintain our schools, we are also welcoming more students.
Aging buildings due for restoration are a leading factor in this plan. Stony Brook Elementary School, the high school’s gym, and the Performing Arts Center are “the new parts” of the district, but both are over 20 years old.
Building systems need improvements. The last referendum process (2016) identified $65 million in needs, but only half were eventually included in the ballot proposal. That cost-cutting measure left old heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in place.
Space expansions are needed for today's teaching methods and enrollment levels. Bear Tavern Elementary and Toll Gate Grammar schools struggle for space now, and more families are attracted to our communities. Additionally, education requires more space to meet individualized student needs.
With a vote on September 17, the Board of Education proposes to restore, expand, and protect our schools – and get more than $20 million in state aid for some of the costs.
Improvements are proposed at all six schools that make up Hopewell Valley Regional School District.
Restore building integrity: roof repairs and exterior door enhancements
Improve HVAC: heating, ventilation and cooling system replacements
Protect with security: interior door replacements and improvements to keep students on campus and in main buildings
Expand and renovate: more appropriate instructional space to relieve crowding
Enhance outdoor areas: paving repairs, front entrance refurbishments, and a turf field addition
Read the specific improvements and expansions proposed at each school.
WHY NOW?
Voter approval in September would offer an optimal timeline for construction.
It would begin the process of developing more detailed plans, advertising the projects to contractors, receiving competitive bids for that work, ordering supplies, and scheduling crews.
It would set up HVRSD for work in the summer of 2025, causing the least disruption to the educational environment.
Delaying projects could result in higher future costs as the district continues to patch roofs, pay more for energy inefficiencies, and repair modular classrooms.
A bond referendum is a planning opportunity to maximize state aid for the kinds of restorations and improvements our buildings need, with or without that helpful funding.
Explore the complete list of Frequently Asked Questions!