Mantua Township Schools
BOND REFERENDUM
December 9, 2025

The ballot language acts as a promise to Mantua voters: the Board of Education must complete only the listed improvements within the dollar amount authorized by the community.

The district – working with its financial advisors and architects – carefully researched project costs and built a contingency into the total estimate. 

• If actual costs are higher than what voters approved, the district must adjust or scale back plans to stay within the authorized budget. The architect and construction manager will work closely with district administrators and the Board of Education to ensure the projects stay on track and on budget.

• If actual costs are lower than what voters approved, the funds must be applied to reduce debt, which in turn reduces taxes.

The Board of Education cannot change or add projects beyond what appears on the ballot. They may move funds within those approved projects; for example, if the roof replacement at J. Mason Tomlin costs more than expected but the Sewell addition costs less, they can transfer between the projects. However, they cannot transfer bond funds outside the approved scope, such as paying staff costs or pursuing other projects not part of the referendum.

If the referendum doesn’t pass, the impact will be felt across all three schools. A failed referendum means:

• Loss of state aid: Mantua Township Schools would lose $8.9 million in state aid that would help pay for critical safety, security, and infrastructure upgrades. 

• Space and capacity challenges: The district would need to close the Castle Wing at Sewell and District Office/IT Suite within the next two years. Without the new classroom additions proposed at Sewell and the closure of these two buildings, several space issues would be exacerbated:

  1. With the Castle Wing in disrepair, four kindergarten classrooms in that wing would move into rooms currently used by the preschool program at Sewell, displacing those students. To accommodate the displaced preschoolers, the district would need to find satellite locations for these classes outside of the district.

  2. The District Offices would close and need to relocate, which could come at a cost, especially if the district rented space.

  3. J. Mason Tomlin would remain at full capacity, leaving no available space for special education classrooms or other needs. Alternative options would be considered, including renting trailers.

• Aging infrastructure and higher long-term costs: Without state funding to offset local costs, critical infrastructure projects, like roof replacements and HVAC upgrades, would not be completed or would be postponed for years. Using the annual operating budget for this work would divert funds away from educational priorities and could cost Mantua taxpayers more in the long run as costly repairs and maintenance issues worsen. For example, the district currently spends an average of $100,000 annually on HVAC repairs, without the benefit of state aid.

• Security and ADA compliance lag: While our schools are safe and well-maintained, a failed referendum means ADA upgrades and security enhancements would not be made. 

If the referendum fails, the district would miss out on state funding and face significant space and preschool program challenges.

The district and its architect explored this question and found over six years ago that it was cost-prohibitive to renovate the Castle Wing. A failed referendum in 2020 has only compounded the issues in the Castle Wing, making it even more costly to renovate.

The wing, built in 1912, faces significant challenges due to age and water damage, especially in the basement.

• The foundation is deteriorating; the floors are uneven and sloping.

• The wing is not ADA-compliant so if a student or staff member cannot climb stairs for any reason, we have to change their classroom, sometimes mid-year. 

• The classrooms are also too small (576 sq. ft to 760 sq. ft)– well below the 950 sq. ft. recommended by the NJ Department of Education. To renovate the Castle Wing according to Facility Efficiency Standards, the district would lose classroom space.

• The building cannot be repaired or made ADA compliant in a way that meets modern safety and educational standards. 

If the referendum passes, the building would come down and be replaced by a new addition with four kindergarten classrooms, bathrooms, and a conference room. An addition on the other side of the building would add seven preschool classrooms, a Main Office, bathrooms, a conference room, and a small group interaction room.

The district prioritizes ongoing maintenance, and the maintenance staff does a phenomenal job of making our schools welcoming, safe places. However, major projects, such as roofs, HVAC systems, and building additions, are far more expensive than what can be funded through the annual operating budget.

In January 2020, the district proposed a referendum to address many of these needs. The proposal did not pass, and since then, the challenges have only grown. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent budget cuts strained district resources, including a reduction in staff in the spring of 2022 and again in 2023.

With new district leadership and needs that have become more urgent over time, the Board of Education believes now is the right moment to again ask voters to consider these long-standing facility issues that cannot be funded by the district’s annual operating budget.

Another key reason that a bond referendum is part of the district’s fiscal plan is that state aid would cover $8.9 million of the project costs. Mantua taxpayers already paid this money to the state and can only bring it back to invest in Mantua schools through an approved referendum. If these projects were completed without state aid, they would fall 100% on the general operating budget and local taxpayers.

The State of New Jersey has several programs for property tax relief.  

• The Property Tax Reimbursement, known as "Senior Freeze," offers property tax reimbursements for senior citizens and people with disabilities who qualify. Visit the Senior Freeze webpage or call (800) 882-6597.   

• A second plan is called the Stay NJ property tax credit program, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Visit the Stay NJ webpage. 

• Other current programs are the NJ $250 Senior Citizen Property Tax Deduction and the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR).