Voters in several school districts across New Jersey headed to the polls on Nov. 7 to decide on a variety of construction projects and tax levies.
Voters across various New Jersey cast their ballots to determine the fate of construction projects, tax levies, and other proposals put forth by local boards of education.
These results, while unofficial and pending certification, were provided by the New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education that advocates the interests of school districts, trains local board of education members, and shares resources for the advancement of public education.
Construction Questions
Essex County – Millburn: APPROVED The Millburn Board of Education received approval for a comprehensive plan to renovate and improve Millburn High School, Millburn Middle School, and several elementary schools. The $12,975,262 bonding proposal received significant support, with $5,178,104.80 in state funding.
Gloucester County – Woodbury: APPROVED Woodbury’s Board of Education secured approval for a $22,702,000 project, encompassing renovations to Woodbury Junior/Senior High School and West End Memorial Elementary School. The state will contribute $8,475,663.20 towards the eligible costs of $12,410,953.
Mercer County – Princeton: APPROVED Princeton’s $12,998,050 bonding proposal for renovations across various schools garnered approval. State funding of $4,783,220 will support the final eligible costs of $11,958,050.
Middlesex County – South River: REJECTED South River’s $5,475,000 proposal for athletic facility improvements faced rejection. The state determined the final eligible costs to be $0, leading to no state funding for the project.
Ocean County – Lakehurst: APPROVED Lakehurst’s Board of Education secured approval for a $3,000,000 project, including a new kitchen and roof replacement at Lakehurst Elementary School. The state will contribute $2,189,193 towards the total costs.
Tax Levy Questions
Burlington County – Evesham: APPROVED Evesham’s voters supported two proposals, one for tuition-free full-day kindergarten and another for mental health services. The combined additional tax levy amounts to $2,090,000, ensuring permanent increases in the district’s tax levy.
Bergen County – River Vale: REJECTED River Vale’s proposal to raise $230,000 for hiring armed guards faced rejection, signaling a decision against a permanent increase in the tax levy.
Cape May County – Dennis Township: REJECTED Dennis Township’s bid to raise $1,276,758 for maintaining staff and programs faced rejection, with voters opting against a permanent tax levy increase.
Essex County – Fairfield: Mixed Results Fairfield presented three proposals, with two gaining approval for additional funds. The first, raising $930,008, focused on reducing class sizes and enhancing various programs. The second, seeking $235,916, aimed at increasing classroom supplies and restoring field trips. However, the third proposal, requesting $540,000 for bus aides, was rejected.
Hunterdon County – Clinton Township: Mixed Results Clinton Township received approval for the first proposal, raising $150,000 for school resource officers. However, the second proposal, seeking an additional $150,000 for a second officer, faced rejection.
Mercer County – Robbinsville: REJECTED Robbinsville’s ambitious proposal to raise $4,824,939 for various educational purposes faced rejection. The funds aimed to maintain staff, support technology initiatives, and prevent increases in class size.
Monmouth County – Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District: REJECTED Manalapan-Englishtown’s bid to raise $218,500 for purchasing Chromebooks faced rejection, signaling a decision against a permanent tax levy increase.
Monmouth County – Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District: REJECTED Matawan-Aberdeen’s proposal to raise $2,813,371 for additional security costs faced rejection, with voters opting against a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.
Ocean County – Jackson Township: REJECTED Jackson Township’s proposal to raise $4,035,000 for various educational positions faced rejection, signaling a decision against a permanent tax levy increase.
Somerset County – Millstone Borough: APPROVED Millstone Borough’s two proposals, raising $934,636 for a security department and $1,901,880 for additional staff and programs, gained approval, ensuring permanent increases in the district’s tax levy.
Somerset County – Bridgewater-Raritan Regional: APPROVED Bridgewater-Raritan’s proposal to raise $2,460,000 for a full-day kindergarten program gained approval, resulting in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.
Somerset County – Hillsborough Township: Mixed Results Hillsborough Township received approval for the first proposal, raising $934,636 for a security department. The second proposal, seeking $1,901,880 for additional staff and programs, also gained approval, ensuring permanent increases in the district’s tax levy.
Warren County – Greenwich Township: Mixed Results Greenwich Township gained approval for both questions, raising $200,000 for music and arts programs and $300,000 to restore the Basic Skills Instruction Model.
Other Questions
Burlington County – Willingboro: APPROVED Willingboro’s Board of Education received approval for reducing its membership from nine to seven members.
Cumberland County – Hopewell Township: APPROVED Hopewell Township’s decision to decrease the Board of Education’s membership from nine to seven members gained voter approval.
Hudson County – East Newark: APPROVED East Newark’s shift from a seven-person appointed board to a nine-person elected board received approval from voters.
Passaic County – Little Falls: APPROVED Little Falls’ proposal to reduce the Board of Education’s membership from nine to seven members gained voter approval.
The outcomes of these elections reflect the diverse perspectives and priorities of New Jersey’s communities, highlighting the complex choices faced by voters in shaping the future of education in their respective districts.
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In a pivotal election held on November 7, voters across various New Jersey counties cast their ballots to decide the fate of construction projects, tax levies, and other proposals put forth by local boards of education. The results, still unofficial and pending certification, offer insights into the communities’ priorities and concerns.
Construction Questions
Essex County – Millburn: APPROVED The Millburn Board of Education received approval for a comprehensive plan to renovate and improve Millburn High School, Millburn Middle School, and several elementary schools. The bonding proposal of $12,975,262 garnered significant support, with state funding of $5,178,104.80.
Gloucester County – Woodbury: APPROVED Woodbury’s Board of Education secured approval for a $22,702,000 project, encompassing renovations to Woodbury Junior/Senior High School and West End Memorial Elementary School. The state will contribute $8,475,663.20 towards the eligible costs of $12,410,953.
Mercer County – Princeton: APPROVED Princeton’s Board of Education obtained authorization for a $12,998,050 bonding proposal for renovations across various schools. State funding of $4,783,220 will support the final eligible costs of $11,958,050.
Middlesex County – South River: REJECTED South River’s Board of Education sought authorization for a $5,475,000 project focused on athletic facility improvements, but the proposal faced rejection. The state determined the final eligible costs to be $0, leading to no state funding for the project.
Ocean County – Lakehurst: APPROVED Lakehurst’s Board of Education secured approval for a $3,000,000 project, including a new kitchen and roof replacement at Lakehurst Elementary School. The state will contribute $2,189,193 towards the total costs.
Tax Levy Questions
Burlington County – Evesham: APPROVED Evesham’s voters supported two proposals, one for tuition-free full-day kindergarten and another for mental health services. The combined additional tax levy amounts to $2,090,000, ensuring permanent increases in the district’s tax levy.
Bergen County – River Vale: REJECTED River Vale’s proposal to raise $230,000 for hiring armed guards faced rejection, signaling a decision against a permanent increase in the tax levy.
Cape May County – Dennis Township: REJECTED Dennis Township’s bid to raise $1,276,758 for maintaining staff and programs faced rejection, with voters opting against a permanent tax levy increase.
Essex County – Fairfield: Mixed Results Fairfield presented three proposals, with two gaining approval for additional funds. The first, raising $930,008, focused on reducing class sizes and enhancing various programs. The second, seeking $235,916, aimed at increasing classroom supplies and restoring field trips. However, the third proposal, requesting $540,000 for bus aides, was rejected.
Hunterdon County – Clinton Township: Mixed Results Clinton Township received approval for the first proposal, raising $150,000 for school resource officers. However, the second proposal, seeking an additional $150,000 for a second officer, faced rejection.
Mercer County – Robbinsville: REJECTED Robbinsville’s ambitious proposal to raise $4,824,939 for various educational purposes faced rejection. The funds aimed to maintain staff, support technology initiatives, and prevent increases in class size.
Monmouth County – Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District: REJECTED Manalapan-Englishtown’s bid to raise $218,500 for purchasing Chromebooks faced rejection, signaling a decision against a permanent tax levy increase.
Monmouth County – Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District: REJECTED Matawan-Aberdeen’s proposal to raise $2,813,371 for additional security costs faced rejection, with voters opting against a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.
Ocean County – Jackson Township: REJECTED Jackson Township’s proposal to raise $4,035,000 for various educational positions faced rejection, signaling a decision against a permanent tax levy increase.
Somerset County – Millstone Borough: APPROVED Millstone Borough’s two proposals, raising $934,636 for a security department and $1,901,880 for additional staff and programs, gained approval, ensuring permanent increases in the district’s tax levy.
Somerset County – Bridgewater-Raritan Regional: APPROVED Bridgewater-Raritan’s proposal to raise $2,460,000 for a full-day kindergarten program gained approval, resulting in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.
Somerset County – Hillsborough Township: Mixed Results Hillsborough Township received approval for the first proposal, raising $934,636 for a security department. The second proposal, seeking $1,901,880 for additional staff and programs, also gained approval, ensuring permanent increases in the district’s tax levy.
Warren County – Greenwich Township: Mixed Results Greenwich Township gained approval for both questions, raising $200,000 for music and arts programs and $300,000 to restore the Basic Skills Instruction Model.
Other Questions
Burlington County – Willingboro: APPROVED Willingboro’s Board of Education received approval for reducing its membership from nine to seven members.
Cumberland County – Hopewell Township: APPROVED Hopewell Township’s decision to decrease the Board of Education’s membership from nine to seven members gained voter approval.
Hudson County – East Newark: APPROVED East Newark’s shift from a seven-person appointed board to a nine-person elected board received approval from voters.
Passaic County – Little Falls: APPROVED Little Falls’ proposal to reduce the Board of Education’s membership from nine to seven members gained voter approval.
The outcomes of these elections reflect the diverse perspectives and priorities of New Jersey’s communities, highlighting the complex choices faced by voters in shaping the future of education in their respective districts.