BOND REFERENDUM
VOTE SEPTEMBER 15
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JOIN US! INFO SESSION ON JULY 23 , 6-7 P.M. AT ABRAHAM CLARK HIGH SCHOOL. SUBMIT QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE HERE.
TWO QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT
ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR $9.2M IN STATE AID
TWO QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT
ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR $9.2M IN STATE AID
Back in 1967, Roselle Public Schools first asked voters to consider funding a new building on Chandler Avenue through a bond referendum.
So what has changed?
Our growing needs, with PreK enrollment surging and new development bringing more families to the borough.
Our renewed resolve to ensure students have modern facilities that support today's instructional requirements.
Our chance to receive upfront funding and state aid toward projects that would transform our district and community.
Question 1 includes a new school for PreK-2 students that would free up space district-wide and create a more optimal grade-level structure
Question 2 includes security improvements, auditorium renovations, and instructional space to support innovative STEAM learning and adult students with special needs
It's a proposal 60 years in the making. VOTE SEPTEMBER 15.
WATCH THE REFERENDUM VIDEO
WATCH THE REFERENDUM VIDEO
BEYOND THE REFERENDUM:
HOW RPS HAS IMPROVED SCHOOLS
BEYOND THE REFERENDUM:
HOW RPS HAS IMPROVED SCHOOLS
Roselle Public Schools has maximized its existing resources, including grants and capital reserve funds, to increase opportunities for students.
A mobile S.T.E.A.M. machine brings innovative hands-on learning experiences throughout the district.
Underutilized spaces have been converted into an e-Sports room, a podcast studio, media lab and fitness center, using our general funds.
Elementary school basketball courts have been renovated with the help of grants.
HVAC, roofs and windows have been upgraded over the last several years through district savings and grants.
These projects were completed with our community in mind, at no additional cost to taxpayers.
These projects were completed with our community in mind, at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Have questions that you don't see answered here? Email vote2026@roselleschools.org
We have done everything we can within our existing resources. We know our students deserve more.
We have done everything we can within our existing resources. We know our students deserve more.
Some of our youngest learners attend school in rented, aging buildings. They trudge up and down steps to classrooms on the third floor that lack bathrooms and adequate space for instructional supplies. It's simply not an appropriate environment for early education. Roselle has discussed the need for a new school building for decades. Now, our district is moving toward a bond referendum to construct a PreK-2 school and improve instructional space and security at existing buildings.
If voters approve the ballot measure, the district receives $9.2 million in state aid to offset the local share of the costs.To maximize opportunities for financial support, the district reached out to our elected officials, who have pledged an additional $1.4 million from budget appropriations toward costs associated with the referendum.
The estimated total cost of the new building is $79.7 million. The other projects total an estimated $7.4 million. SEE MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE $9.2 MILLION IN STATE AID TOWARD THESE PROJECTS.
Fewer transitions, more opportunities
The proposed Chandler Avenue building would have benefits beyond PreK-2 students. It would be the foundation for an educational transformation at Roselle Public Schools.
Roselle students attend as many as six schools, depending on where they are enrolled for PreK and kindergarten, during their time in the district.
The addition of a new school on Chandler Avenue, where the district already owns land, would reduce the number of transitions. Students would attend four schools instead of five or six:
Chandler Avenue – PreK-2
Harrison, Polk and Washington – Grades 3-5
Leonard V. Moore and Grace Wilday – Grades 6-8 (Students would choose between S.T.E.A.M focus at Moore and arts-centered program at Wilday)
Abraham Clark High School – Grades 9-12
Allowing students to make fewer transitions will help them build relationships and develop comfort and confidence before moving on to the next step in their education.
Innovation through renovation
Proposed projects at other schools to benefit students and expand opportunities include:
Creating makerspaces from existing classrooms to offer hands-on instruction at Polk, Harrison and Washington elementary schools, and Leonard V. Moore and Grace Wilday junior high schools.
Converting a portion of the Central Office into a transition center, with support to prepare young-adult students for independent living and employment.
Restoring and upgrading the high school auditorium to preserve its historic features while providing a more functional space for performers and spectators.
Safer schools for all students
Security vestibules are enclosures that allow school personnel to screen visitors before letting them into the building. These safety features are standard in most New Jersey districts. If the referendum is approved, we will add security vestibules and bulletproof doors at all Roselle schools.
Our high school auditorium has a balcony railing that is only about knee-high. Renovations for that space include a replacement railing for enhanced safety.
Stay tuned for more details
The NJ Department of Education is currently reviewing Roselle Public Schools’ proposed projects. That process determines how much aid our district will receive toward the improvements if the referendum is approved. The state funding reduces taxpayers’ share of the project costs.
From now through the Sept. 15 vote date, we will share information through district communication channels and community outlets and will provide opportunities to ask questions and learn more.
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