On Tuesday, Sept. 28, voters in four New Jersey school districts approved spending proposals totaling $51,969,253. The following is a recap of the results.
Voters in the Wenonah School District approved the Board of Education’s proposal for renovations, alterations and improvements at Wenonah Elementary-Middle School; Mine Hill’s voters narrowly approved its request to implement various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at Canfield School; while Wallkill Valley Regional High School District voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to undertake improvements to the Wallkill Valley High School. In Rahway, voters approved proposal number one but rejected proposals two and three for school capital projects.
Here are the unofficial results of the election gathered by the New Jersey School Boards Association from the offices of the county clerks:
Statewide amount proposed: $96,620,339
Statewide amount approved: $51,969,253
State funding proposed: $41,228,690
State funding approved: $21,575,283
Wenonah (Gloucester County) – Approved
This plan includes renovations, alterations and improvements at Wenonah Elementary-Middle School, as well as the acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment, site work and related costs
Total amount: $2,996,964
State funds: $1,198,786
Mine Hill (Morris County) – Approved
The spending proposal address various improvements, alterations, renovations and upgrades at Canfield School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work.
Total amount: $4,958,240
State funds: $1,840,668
Wallkill Valley Regional (Sussex County) – Approved
The plan includes auditorium renovations; HVAC, shop room and fire alarm upgrades; locker replacements and site improvements, including at the football field and the tennis courts.
Total amount: $5,300,000
State funds: $1,797,694
Rahway (Union County) – Proposal 1 – Approved, Proposals 2 and 3 – Rejected
Proposal 1 (Approved): Critical capital improvements to the building interior and envelope and building system upgrades, safety and security, involving alterations, renovations and improvements, new construction and roofing at Franklin Elementary School, Grover Cleveland Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, the 7th and 8th Grade Academy and Rahway High School, including fixtures, furnishings, equipment, site work and related work.
Total amount: $38,714,049
State funds: $16,738,135
Proposal 2 (Rejected, contingent upon approval of Proposal 1 ): Additional capital improvements related to interior building reconfiguration impacting gym, art and educational space and playground, parking, driveway and bus drop-off improvements at Franklin Elementary School, Grover Cleveland Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, the 7th and 8th Grade Academy and Rahway High School, including renovations, alterations, improvements, fixtures, furnishings, equipment, site work and related work.
Total amount $39,407,833
State funds: $17,038,095
Proposal 3 (Rejected, contingent upon approval of Proposal 1): Mechanical improvements at Franklin Elementary School, Grover Cleveland Elementary School, Madison Elementary School and Roosevelt Elementary School consisting of renovations, alterations, improvements, fixtures, furnishings, equipment, site work and related work.
Total amount $6,049,019
State funds: $2,615,312
School districts in New Jersey can only hold elections on ballot questions on dates specified by law. These dates are the final Tuesday in September, the second Tuesday in December, the fourth Tuesday in January, the second Tuesday in March and the Annual School Election on the third Tuesday in April. Under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, the state will fund at least 40% of eligible school construction costs through annual debt service aid. Proposed construction projects in all four school districts are at least partially eligible for state funds.