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CONTACT:      Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org)
                      Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
                      (609) 278-5202

Fort Lee Voters Approve $30 million in School Construction

TRENTON, January 25, 2012—Voters approved one of the two school-construction proposals on the ballot Tuesday, Jan. 24, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Voters in Fort Lee in Bergen County approved a $30.2 million proposal to renovate its schools, while votes in Upper Township in Cape May County rejected their bond proposal.

The fourth Tuesday in January was one of the five dates each year that school boards may hold special elections. The next date on which a school board may schedule a bond referendum question is March 13.

Results of the Jan. 24 school construction proposals are below.

New Jersey School Construction Referendum Results
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

STATEWIDE
Total amount requested – $46,124,446
Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $16,142,959

BERGEN COUNTY
Fort Lee – Approved
Renovations to three elementary schools and the high school (including repair or replacement of roofs, windows, masonry and HVAC systems), and renovations and expansion to the middle school.
Total amount – $30,206,077
Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $9,775,611  

CAPE MAY COUNTY
Upper Township – Rejected (both questions)
Proposal 1: Construction of an addition and renovations (including safety issues, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems) to the primary and middle schools.
Total amount – $12,535,211
Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $5,014,085

Proposal 2 (contingent upon approval of Proposal 1): Renovations to the primary and middle schools.
Total amount – $3,383,158
Amount eligible for state reimbursement – $1,353,263

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The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of 587 local boards of education and includes 65 charter school associate members. NJSBA advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.