Wayne Schools Will Close March 12 For Bond Vote, Using Emergency Day

WAYNE, NJ — While residents are voting on a $169.8 million Wayne Township Public Schools bond next month, students will get a day off of school since several buildings are used as polling places.

This will count as one of the district's four emergency days for the 2023/24 school year, and officials said that cancelling class is for both student and staff safety.

Taxpayers will head to the polls on March 12, and vote on whether the district should be able to sell $169.8 million in bonds to finance improvements across the district. This includes $39 million already committed by the state, making the local share $130.8 million.

If approved, this would raise taxes for the average assessed home in Wayne about $370 per year, for about 25 years. School officials have pointed out that since the debt for the construction of Anthony Wayne Middle School will be complete by 2025, the tax burden with this new bond issuance would then be about $116 less per year — a "real feel" annual increase of $254 in 2025.

A community forum discussing the referendum, which is aimed at enhancing facilities across all 15 schools within the K–12 district, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The informative session will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Wayne Hills High School Auditorium, 272 Berdan Ave.

The voter registration deadline for this referendum is Feb. 20. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12.

Vote-by-mail applications must be received by March 5, to have a ballot mailed to you. In-person ballots must be postmarked or turned in by March 12.