Voters Approve $215.4 million for School Projects

TRENTON, December 9, 2009—Voters in 11 of 15 New Jersey school districts approved more than $215.4 million in school construction projects on Tuesday, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today. School boards may hold special elections on five specific dates a year, and Tuesday was the final day for a school board to schedule a referendum in 2009.

This year, voters approved school-construction proposals in 48 of 66 communities, for a success rate of 72.7 percent, one of the highest approval rates recorded during the past 11 years. The average success rate during the previous four years has hovered around 62 percent.

The 15 districts holding bond referendums on Tuesday proposed a total of $237 million in school construction. Energy-saving initiatives continued to be popular, as seven of the 15 referendums asked voters to approve solar panels; six of the projects with solar energy components were approved. Of the $215.4 million that was approved in the 11 districts, nearly $68 million will be covered by state funds, either through up-front grants, annual “debt service aid” payments, or rebates through the state’s Clean Energy program.

The next date on which a school board may schedule a bond referendum question is Jan. 26. Details of Tuesday’s school construction proposals are below.

New Jersey School Construction Referendum Results Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009

STATEWIDE Total amount of construction approved – $215,466,793 ($237,384,368 requested) Amount eligible for state funding – $68,030,641 (State funding may include up-front school-construction grants, annual payments of debt service aid, or Clean Energy rebates)

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Estell Manor – REJECTED Renovations, including HVAC, electrical, and installing a geothermal system Total amount – $3,105,636 Amount eligible for state funding – $1,367,192

BERGEN COUNTY

Edgewater – PASSED (both questions) Proposal 1: Demolish the George Washington School and construct new elementary school Total amount – $28,250,000 Amount eligible for state funding – $­­­­­­­­­­­­­1,179,750 Proposal 2 (contingent upon the passage of Proposal 1) Install solar panels at Eleanor Van Gelder School Total amount – $478,400 Amount eligible for state funding – $191,360

Hasbrouck Heights – REJECTED Relocation of main office and several classrooms for security reasons at two elementary schools; replacement of heating systems at two elementary schools, the middle school and high school Total amount – $4,728,712 Amount eligible for state funding – $1,891,484

Ridgewood – PASSED Renovate high school, including field improvements; additions and/or renovations to eight other schools, with projecting ranging from new roofs to installation of a new track Total amount – $48,265,314 Amount eligible for state funding – $9,844,712

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Bordentown Regional – PASSED Renovations to the high school complex, including solar panels, reconstruction of athletic fields, lighting and other work Total amount – $8,499,975 Amount eligible for state funding – $2,620,936 Mansfield Township – PASSED (both questions) Proposal 1: Roof replacement at elementary school Total amount – $639,300 Amount eligible for state funding – $255,720 Proposal 2 (Contingent upon passage of Proposal 1: Install solar panels at elementary school Total amount – $1,229,424 Amount eligible for state funding – $ 491,770

Springfield Township – REJECTED Renovations including installing solar panels at elementary school Total amount – $11,083,227 Amount eligible for state funding – $3,776,565

CAMDEN COUNTY

Berlin Township – PASSED Roof replacement, renovations to HVAC at two schools; roof replacement at administration building Total amount – $6,580,995 Amount eligible for state funding – $3,246,206

CAPE MAY COUNTY

Woodbine – PASSED Install solar panels at elementary school Total amount – $3,682,665 Amount eligible for state funding – $2,145,745

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Fairfield Township – PASSED Addition and renovations to elementary school Total amount – $3,984,772 Amount eligible for state funding – $1,984,772

ESSEX COUNTY

Livingston Township – PASSED (both questions) Proposal 1: Renovations to six elementary schools and two middle schools Total amount – $55,996,572 Amount eligible for state funding – $22,398,628 Proposal 2 (contingent upon passage of Proposal 1): Install solar panels and any necessary roof and electrical system renovations at six elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school Total amount – $8,687,905 Amount eligible for state funding – $3,475,162

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Delsea Regional – REJECTED Replace roof at middle school Total amount – $3,000,000 Amount eligible for state funding – $1,631,719

SALEM COUNTY Quinton Township – PASSED Improvements to elementary school, including installing solar panels Total amount – $4,839,850 Amount eligible for state funding – $2,717,885

SOMERSET COUNTY

Montgomery Township – PASSED Renovations to three schools, addition and renovations to one school Total amount – $24,350,352 Amount eligible for state funding – $9,485,489

UNION COUNTY

Cranford – PASSED Replace roofs at all schools; replace HVAC systems in three schools and boilers at three other schools. Total amount – $19,981,269 Amount eligible for state funding – $7,992,506

 print