School Referendums from Throughout New Jersey

The Hanover Park Regional School District is not the only district with a referendum to appear on next year's school ballot.

Over $42 million in referendum proposals has already been approved by voters statewide.

In Bergen County, voters in Midland Park rejected two proposals to renovate school buildings. The first referendum proposed outfitting a high school and two elementary schools with electrical systems, alarms, roofs, improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and other improvements.

The second proposal, which was contingent on the first, would have proposed a new high school auditorium and field, including synthetic turf installation and new lighting and bleachers.

Both referendums were defeated to the tune of about $15 million.

Park Ridge voters approved a referendum to install artificial turf, all-weather track and other track and field improvements. The total amount of the referendum would be $1,400,000.

In Bellmawr, voters rejected a referendum to replace and repair roofs at three schools. The project would have cost over $3 million.

In Mercer County, a referendum for two schools in Robbinsville to construct new additions and get renovations will be on the ballot. The cost, if approved, will be almost $19 million.

South Amboy voters agreed to vote for a referendum to renovate South Amboy Elementary School with roof repairs, boilers, interior repairs, handicap accessibility, mechanical systems and electrical and plumbing repairs. If the referendum passes, the cost of the project will be almost $8.5 million.

Westfield voters in Union County will vote on a referendum to replace or repair roofs at 12 schools and district buildings. The project, if it passes, will cost $13.6 million.

In East Hanover, the athletic field improvements at Whippany Park High School and Hanover Park High School will cost $17.6. The project, known as the "Physical Education and Athletic Facilities Rehabilitation Project," includes the following:

• Adding 44 parking spaces to the teacher parking lot at Whippany Park, while widening the entrance to the student lot and reconfiguring one end of the parking lot to include five more parking spaces. The student lot also would be paved.
• Hanover Park's football field to get new lighting
• Replace soccer scoreboard at Whippany Park
• Grade and seed practice fields instead of installing artificial turf or sodding. A field hockey/junior varsity softball field at Whippany Park was added to the scope.
• The wood face of seating that is built in to a hill near a Whippany Park baseball field would be redone
• Two of three "kiosk" areas meant for setting up tables to provide information or sell items were removed from the earlier plans. One near the Hanover Park High School concession stand remains.

According to the New Jersey School Boards Association, most communities with a referendum will have ballot languate which states that "no state support is currently available and the state has not been approving any capital projects for which state support is requested.”

School boards can schedule a bond referendum on one of five dates each year. The next date is Jan. 22, 2013.