A bond referendum is a vote that asks for permission to borrow money through the sale of bonds. School districts use this method to fund major updates and renovations, like how a homeowner uses a home equity loan to replace a roof or air conditioner.

Voter approval would give the school district authority to sell bonds and use property taxes to buy them back, with interest. NPSD will pay off debt from a previous referendum after 2026. Payments on a new investment could start then – keeping the tax rate the same.

Improvements made with bond funding qualify for a special type of state aid. That financial aid is paid throughout the loan, as if the state is helping to make the payments. Proposed improvements total $34 million and state aid would contribute $19.1 million toward that. 

This is money that North Plainfield residents already pay to the state through taxes. It could be used to improve our local schools.

The regular budget covers everyday costs of operating our schools, such as salaries and supplies. That operating budget can't absorb the kinds of large-scale, long-term capital improvements that are proposed with this referendum. NPSD faces tight budgetary restrictions, including state-imposed limits on how much the district can raise revenue each year. Funding approved projects through a bond allows the district to keep those costs outside the operating budget and outside the state-imposed limits.

By state law, funds obtained through a bond referendum can only be used for the approved building renovations planned in that referendum. Bond funds cannot be used for salaries, supplies, utilities or other day-to-day operational costs.

NPSD offers this website as the main source of accurate, up-to-date information about the referendum. A postcard will be sent to every home in the district. Two forums will be presented for the public to learn about the referendum.

• Watch a recording of the webinar-style forum. The recording includes a presentation and time for questions and answers.  

• Come to an in-person forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 4 at North Plainfield High School Cafeteria (34 Wilson Avenue in North Plainfield). It will include a presentation, a tour to see areas proposed for renovation, and time for questions and answers. 

In addition to checking this website for updates and added information, follow NPSD on Facebook and Instagram.

Modern school entrances use two-stage entrances for security. The first area is a small vestibule where a school employee can check a visitor’s identification and reason for entering the building. After that security check, a visitor can be allowed into the school. The vestibule would have a “transaction window” through which a forgotten lunch or musical instrument could be passed.

North Plainfield’s middle school and intermediate school have two-stage security vestibules. For equity, the referendum proposes building them at all three elementary schools and the high school. They would be another layer in NPSD’s intent to make schools as secure as possible.

HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) investments are proposed for East End and West End Elementary Schools. The heating systems are 30 to 40 years old, and window air conditioning units are inefficient. Replacements would save repair costs and save money, bringing more stability to the everyday operating budget.

NPSD used federal, pandemic-related funding to replace systems for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) in three schools. The system at Somerset is 20 years old and may be replaced through the district’s planning and budgeting without bond funds.

Every renovation is an opportunity to improve access for students, staff members and visitors who have temporary or permanent disabilities. 

Building security vestibules at all three elementary schools and the high school would include adding ramps that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The existing ramps are too narrow for many modern wheelchairs and they don’t have enough turning space.

New seating in the high school auditorium would include platforms for wheelchair users. Renovating that school’s gym locker rooms would include the space necessary for people who use crutches, wheeled walkers or wheelchairs.

Windows support climate control and security. At about 25 years old, windows at the middle and high schools don’t form an efficient barrier between the inside environment and outside weather. Many don’t open or close well and do not have screens. The Board of Education has made progress toward replacing windows and voter approval of the referendum would provide the funding to finish that goal.

High school students use the auditorium for classes, gatherings and performances, and other NP schools also occasionally use it for special events. Beyond that, the entire community has a stake in that space. It is available for use by outside organizations, and it is the backup location for the borough’s summer concert series.

A classroom in the high school has been called the “Home Ec” room for decades. Its layout and equipment match the 1970s-era when Home Economics was taught with family home-keeping in mind. It needs new appliances and cabinetry that can prepare students for today’s career pathways. Its floorplan could be redesigned for more hands-on learning. Safety features could be updated.

These improvements would transform not just the room, but the instructional program. The high school could enhance and expand its course offerings to teach Culinary Arts for a range of career choices.

A two-stage vestibule is planned for the exterior of the high school, and interior renovations would also improve security. With the security vestibule as a screening point, each visitor would be screened and the proper person would be sent to greet the visitor. The main office is busy throughout the day, and security would be improved by limiting access.

As more students enroll and services increase, the high school needs better office space for administration and additional guidance counselors. They are not all located in the main office. Reconfiguring the office’s open floor plan would create more offices from the same square footage while increasing collaboration, improving student services and streamlining administrative functions. An assistant principal and a counselor would move from the upper-level Media Center to the first-level main office. Another counselor, who has an office across the hallway from the main office, would move into the redesigned space. The referendum proposes creating a universal conference room separate from the principal’s office.

The nurse’s office is too small for its daily demands; it can only accommodate three to four people comfortably. When a nurse wants to speak to a student, other students may be asked to step outside to maintain privacy. The referendum proposes removing some walls to create an enlarged space with offices for each school nurse, plus room to maintain privacy when speaking one-on-one with a student. Three cots, a renovated restroom, and closet storage would complete this essential space for a high school of North Plainfield’s size.

The current science labs were designed for curricula and equipment that have become outdated. Power supplies and storage spaces are limited. Ventilation and plumbing systems are from a different era. Safety features have not advanced. It’s challenging to integrate modern technology into labs designed decades ago.   

Middle and high school students need modern learning environments that mirror real-world scientific work. In addition to updated electrical, plumbing and safety systems, renovations would be redesigned so that students could seamlessly transition from lecture-based instruction to hands-on experimentation. Flexible furniture would support collaboration. The proposed redesign would do more than refresh these labs with a new look: They would align with curriculum evolutions, workforce needs, and New Jersey’s “next generation” science standards.

The high school’s Media Center was designed primarily to hold books and serve as a site for passive, individual use. Now, with so much information available online, the Media Center has the potential to provide space for more interactive learning. While books would remain a main feature of this room, the number of books, especially the ones used for research material, would be reduced.

The added space would give the Media Center a new purpose as a collaborative place where students work together on projects, meet as clubs, and use electronic devices to research and access the newest data. Updated technology and convenient power supplies. It would be equipped for a television studio and other capabilities to support an expanded curriculum such as Digital Arts and/or Broadcast Journalism. It would bring this important space in line with the needs of the 21st century, including research, digital literacy and flexible learning.

Inside the high school’s Media Center is a small office for a career-focused counselor. It isn’t large enough to serve three to four students who all want to meet with the same admissions officer visiting from a college. The reimagined version would be large enough for small-group meetings, independent college research and conversations with the career counselor, as well as college admissions officers visiting NPHS. The center would be updated to create a very inviting look, with comfortable tables and seating similar to what a modern university might have. With this renovation, the improved center would be better positioned to help students explore career paths.

If the referendum is approved, the district would start work on some improvements in the summer of 2026. Projects that require significant equipment, such as HVAC upgrades and classroom kitchen renovations, have longer timelines. All projects are forecasted for completion by fall 2029.

Several factors will determine the order that these improvements are completed at five North Plainfield schools. Some projects would be scheduled in summer months to avoid disrupting classes. Some will depend on the availability of contractors or equipment. An important factor would be the cost savings that could come from getting similar work done at different buildings at the same time, such as the HVAC replacements at East End and West End schools. If voters approve the referendum, the district’s architect would consider these factors to create a timeline for renovation work.

Somerset Intermediate is one of the community’s newest schools. Built in 2009, it already has a two-stage security vestibule and accessibility features. Its windows still operate efficiently. When the time for HVAC replacement comes, that may be done with the district’s Capital Reserve. This referendum focuses on NPSD’s other schools that need major updates and renovations.

Careful timing and state aid are the key factors in this Zero Tax Impact Referendum. 

• Debt from a previous school referendum will be paid off after 2026 and debt from this September 16 referendum would begin the following year. It’s similar to the way someone might finish paying one car loan and continue paying that amount on the investment of a new car. 

• State aid is available when voters approve bond funding. That means the state would pay $19.1 million toward the $34 million costs.

The tax impact from the old and new debt is about the same for a home assessed at North Plainfield’s average ($225,527). In fact, it’s a little less! Voter approval would lead to major school improvements and a tax decrease for school debt of about $12/year.

If the majority of voters say “no” on September 16, the current property tax for school debt would end after 2026. For the owner of a home assessed at North Plainfield’s average, that would mean a reduction of about $136 a year. It would also mean that NPSD would lose $19.1 million in state aid for the proposed school improvements. Must-do projects like security vestibules would take many more years to fund with the regular budget. Old HVAC systems and windows will continue straining that budget with repairs and lost energy. Instructional programs including Culinary Arts and AP Chemistry would not evolve until improvements can be funded by the regular budget.

Architects determine cost estimates based on their extensive experience, and then add a percentage to cover professional fees, permits and possible price variations. That ensures the projects get done even if market conditions change. School districts use a competitive bidding process to be sure they get the best prices. 

However, 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 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.

The State of New Jersey has several programs that provide property tax relief, especially for people who are older or disabled. 

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. 

Property assessments are set specifically for the purpose of taxes. In contrast, a property’s market value is the guess of what it might sell for in the current real estate market. The estimated tax impact of improvements is based on a home’s assessed value. Check your assessed value here.

• Use the “Property” field to enter your address.  

• Click the green spyglass button to show results.  

• Find your address in the “Property Info” column.

• Then click the green “Details” button to the left of the “Parcel Info” column

• Scroll to see the “Net Tax Value.”

In North Plainfield, the mathematical average of assessed values is $225,527. No matter what the assessed value is, the amount of taxes paid now for school debt would be about equal to what would be paid if the referendum passes. Payments on the debt that is ending would be about the same as payments for the new investment.

School districts sell bonds to investors, then buy them back over time. Financial advisors have estimated NPSD’s plan with a 25-year payback. If interest rates go down during that time, the district can refinance the loan.

The ballot that voters will see asks for permission to borrow about $34 million, even though the State of New Jersey has already committed to providing $19.1 million in financial aid. That’s because the school district would be selling bonds for the full amount of proposed improvements. The state would provide a portion of the aid year after year, as if it is helping make loan payments. With that state aid, NPSD could get $34 million in improvements, and the local share is $14.9 million. 

To participate in this special election by mail or in person, your voter registration must show your current name and address. The deadline to register or update your registration is August 26.

From this State of New Jersey webpage, you can find links to check your registration status, update your registration, upload proof of identification to complete voter registration, and download a paper form to use for registration.

You must be a registered voter to use the state's Vote By Mail program. To request a mail-in ballot be sent to you, the Somerset County Clerk’s Office must receive your application by September 9. To get a ballot in person, you must go that office by 3 p.m. on Monday, September 15.

The in-person option has a later deadline and avoids the U.S. Postal Service -- but uses the same paperwork as for mailed ballots.

Mail-in ballots can be submitted by mail if they are postmarked by September 16 – the same day as the referendum’s in-person voting. They can also be placed in one of the county’s dropboxes or hand-delivered to the Somerset County Board of Elections (20 Grove Street in Somerville) by 8 p.m. September 16. Mail-in ballots cannot be submitted at in-person polls.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at East End Elementary School (170 Oneida Avenue) and Stony Brook Elementary School (269 Grove Street). Each registered voter will receive a sample ballot in the mail about a week before the September 16 referendum and it will list the poll to which that voter is assigned. However, Somerset County officials advised that voters can go to either location to cast ballots.

If, for any reason, you are told at the polls that you cannot vote, request a provisional ballot. They are a safety net that ensures legitimate votes are counted. Valid votes will be counted if not duplicates.

The high school auditorium’s stage, some seating and some flooring sustained significant water damage. Water was found beneath the subfloor of the Wrestling Gym. At the middle school, the gymnasium floor is being assessed for water damage. The Operations and Auxiliary Services Building took more than 3 inches of water, and its floors and walls must be replaced. At Stony Brook Elementary, the playground area and fencing sustained flood damage.  

NPSD is working with an emergency repair company to take the swift actions needed to reduce further damage to our schools. The high school auditorium’s stage and the structures that support are being demolished, and further investigation is being done to determine the next steps for seats and flooring. Drying equipment was set up in the Wrestling Gym, and the floor will be replaced after water is fully extracted. Restoration is already underway at the Operations building. Stony Brook's playground area will be completely cleaned out and rebuilt. 

There are many legal steps to a bond referendum and for NPSD, most of those have already been taken. The district submitted plans to the state Department of Education, received approval for those, and took the necessary action to send ballot wording to Somerset County. NPSD can no longer change the referendum plan. 

That plan included a full renovation of the high school auditorium’s stage, seating and flooring – as well as a new ceiling, light fixtures and acoustic wall panels. The July 14 storm forced the need for renovation – with or without a voter-approved referendum. It also means insurance may cover some of the costs. 

NPSD carries general property insurance and special flood insurance. The district is in contact with those companies, which will determine what repairs meet insurance rules and how much of the costs will be reimbursed. There may be a difference between the insurance coverage of the previous stage size versus the expansion proposed in the September 16 referendum. 

This insurance evaluation is not a quick process, and we do not expect to have a complete or final answer by the vote date. 

Legally, the referendum plan cannot be changed from the request to borrow $34 million for the September 16 ballot.  

• The projects and referendum were approved by the State of NJ on May 15, 2025.

• Bond referendum rules prevent a district from spending more than voters approve. Even if costs go up, NPSD could not spend more than $34 million. 

• Rules also require that bond funds be spent on the projects described on the ballot. No projects can be added or subtracted from the ballot wording. 

• If costs are lower (such as insurance payments for stage replacement), any unspent bond funds must be used to lower the property tax rate.

NPSD already began emergency work to protect against additional damage; restore the Operations building; and dry the Wrestling Gym floor. We continue assessments to determine the full extent of damage. We are in discussions with the architects and engineers who know our buildings and the referendum plan. 

Some of the necessary repairs will be completed before the start of the 2025-26 school year. Others will take more time and coordination. It is unlikely the high school auditorium will be open to staff and students until spring 2026.