BALLOT EXPLAINED

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools have been operating with more and more students. That means students in three out of five of the elementary schools lack dedicated general music rooms as well as spaces designed for instrumental music lessons, lunch periods stretch for hours, and small group instruction and other critical services take place in shared spaces with multiple lessons often taught at the same time. The state isn't going to solve these space issues – only an investment from the community can help provide the space and system upgrades that our schools need.

The January vote gives residents of Scotch Plains and Fanwood that option – while still capturing $11.4 million in state aid.

Students were welcomed into a new wing of Evergreen Elementary School for the 2024-25 school year to ease space constraints.

What’s on the ballot?

Question 1: Bond Referendum Acquire La Grande Building and add air conditioning and other upgrades across the district

$44.8 million in improvements – State Aid to cover $11.4 million toward the costs

Voter approval of the first question means the district can:

Free up nine classrooms across the elementary schools and ease space constraints with the purchase of the La Grande Building and relocation of all pre-kindergarten classes to this building.
Funds from the district’s Capital Reserve, which is an account earmarked for capital improvements that do not fit within the regular operating budget, would cover costs of minor renovations for La Grande.
Critical upgrades to HVAC, electrical, and fire alarm systems, as well as universal air conditioning across all schools.

By creating space in this manner, redistricting would no longer be part of our plan. Pre-kindergarten expansion would also not be possible at this point, as the district prioritizes maintaining class sizes and freeing up space for K-4.

The district's administration office could potentially move to the third floor of the La Grande Building, saving approximately $200,000 in rent annually.

A Look Inside the Current 330 South Ave.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to the auto shop and wood shop

Brunner Elementary School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to nurse’s suite
Replacement of select unit ventilators

Nettingham Middle School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to the auditorium, gym, cafeteria, and multipurpose room

Coles Elementary School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades
Replacement of select unit ventilators

Terrill Middle School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to art, art office, choir room, choir support room, gym, boys locker room, girls locker room, tech room, and tech office
Replacement of select unit ventilators

Evergreen Elementary School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades in a small group instruction space
Replacement of select unit ventilators

School One Elementary School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
New fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors

McGinn Elementary School

Electrical improvements including upgrades to infrastructure to accommodate AC and outlets in various classrooms
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades in nurse’s suite
Replacement of select unit ventilators

Question 2: Budget Vote Funding the La Grande Building into the Future

$1.1 million for annual costs

The State of New Jersey only allows a bond referendum to fund infrastructure projects, not to fund annual operating costs such as salaries and benefits. For this reason, SPF must have two separate questions on the ballot: one to fund the purchase of La Grande School/HVAC upgrades and another to fund the operating costs for that building in the future.

Rather than holding that vote next year, the district has decided to include it on the January 28, 2025 ballot. This question would fund the annual costs of the La Grande Building, including salaries and benefits to hire a new administrator, nurse, secretaries, custodial staff, security officer, and building and grounds personnel. This would ensure that the cost of adding a new school is properly funded in the future.

To see a breakdown of the operating costs for a new school, visit the Documents page.

Sample Ballot Explained

Ballot language meets legal requirements, but “legalese” can be hard to decipher. Additionally, some numbers in the bond referendum ballot proposal match the state aid program in a technical sense rather than a practical sense. Here’s an explanation of what the ballot means.

Bond Proposal Question – YES/NO

The first paragraph summarizes that approval of the bond proposal would:

provide funds for the district to purchase 330 South Avenue in Fanwood.

undertake upgrades to HVAC, electrical, and fire alarm systems, as well as add universal air conditioning across all schools.

total $44,770,901.

The second paragraph summarizes the final eligible costs allotted to each building. While the second to last sentence mentions 40% state aid, this figure does not reflect reality. The factor of 40% has been part of the state aid program for years, but the state has not fully funded school improvements at that level for the past 13 years. In SPF’s case, the district would receive approximately $11.4 million in state aid, which is 26%.

It’s also important to remember that the final sentence of the ballot language acts like a promise to voters: The Board will make these improvements within the dollar amount authorized by voters. This last sentence informs voters that the Board can transfer funds within these designated projects.

Sample-Ballot-FINAL-1.pdf

Budgetary Spending Proposal Question – YES/NO

The budget question is straightforward, asking whether the district can raise an additional $1,144,700 per year to provide for operational and staffing costs for administration, staffing, nurse, security, custodial, etc. for 330 South Ave. Approval of this question results in a permanent increase in the district’s operating budget.

How each elementary school envisions the future if the referendum passes?

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