Rockaway Township Board of Education Approves Referendum Plan

RTSD Board of Education Approves Referendum Plan to Address Facility Needs

HIBERNIA, NJ — The Rockaway Township Board of Education took the first major step towards improving the infrastructure and addressing the overcrowding of the Township schools at the Board of Education meeting held on September 18, 2024. A resolution to seek the Department of Education's approval of capital improvements in all district schools was passed. If the DOE approves the plan, it will appear on the ballot for the community’s consideration in March 2025. This plan includes building a new Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten School that would also include new Board of Education offices, constructed at the current Dennis B. O’Brien Elementary School site. The district would also make key improvements across all six of its schools. “While the Rockaway Township School District is a big point of pride in our community, our schools have a series of facility needs that we must address soon,” said Dr. Richard R. Corbett, RTSD Superintendent. “We believe the time has come to address these needs in a way that protects the investments our community has made in our schools over the years and ensures a bright future for our students.” The referendum will impact all six schools. Copeland Middle School lacks an auditorium and adequate classroom space, and its sports fields are not commensurate with the demands of middle school athletics. Birchwood Elementary is the only elementary school in the district without a separate cafeteria for students, and there are significant parking issues at the school. Dwyer Elementary requires capital improvements which include windows and doors. Katharine D. Malone Elementary has issues with its septic system and well service, along with significant parking concerns. The school has a much smaller gym than Birchwood, Dwyer, and Stony Brook, and also has a small cafeteria that does not allow all students to consistently eat lunch in the space. Dennis B. O’Brien Elementary has a small cafeteria that does not allow all students to consistently eat lunch in the space, along with a small gym and just one access road into or out of the school site. Stony Brook Elementary requires additional classroom space, as well as space for support rooms and special needs classrooms. All schools require security enhancements at the main entrance. Moreover, the current Board Office / Administration Building is not handicapped accessible, making it impossible for many residents to conduct business. The district will soon launch a referendum-focused web page with information and answers to frequently asked questions. A decision by the New Jersey Department of Education is expected within two months.