Voters in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District on Tuesday rejected a school-construction referendum—the only school construction question on a ballot in New Jersey this month.

Voters rejected two ballot questions totaling $17.4 million to renovate and expand schools throughout the district.

In a non-construction question, voters in the Central Regional School District rejected a question asking to dissolve the regional school district. Five communities make up the seventh- through 12th-grade district including Berkeley Township, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Island Heights and Ocean Gate.

Passage of the question required approval from voters in at least three of the five towns, as well as the majority of the cumulative number of people who voted throughout the regional district. Even though voters supported the plan in three of the five towns—Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and Island Heights—the question failed because it was rejected by a majority of voters in the regional district.

School Districts Struggle “There is a genuine concern that voters are not supporting projects that don’t come with up-front state grants, which had been available in past years,” said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director. “In addition, many school districts, in the face of tax caps and state budget restrictions, may have to struggle to meet the cost of maintaining and staffing new classrooms.”

A 2001 statute limits special school elections to five specific dates a year, one of which is the second Tuesday in March. Over the past seven years, New Jersey has not seen a referendum date with only one school construction proposal. 

The remaining dates for special school election questions this year include the Annual School Election on April 17, Sept. 25 and Dec. 11.

Rejected Proposals The questions on Tuesday’s ballot included: 

SOMERSET COUNTY
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional—Rejected (both proposals)
Proposal 1:
Additions and renovations to the high school; renovations for the middle school, the intermediate school and eight elementary schools; and security upgrades at all schools.
Total amount – $15.26 million
Amount covered by state debt service – $2.97 million

Proposal 2 (contingent on passage of Proposal 1):
Addition of a team room to the high school gymnasium, and other renovations for storage and lockers; create two new physical education/practice fields.
Total amount – $2.13 million
Amount covered by state debt service – $130,560

OCEAN COUNTY
Central Regional—Rejected
Dissolution of the Central Regional School District, resulting in each constituent district having the responsibility of providing a K-12 education for children in the community.