A prominent Roselle physician and president of the borough’s Board of Health is strongly opposing the proposed $90 million school bond referendum set to appear on the ballot September 15, calling it “a stupid idea at this time” and arguing that the massive tax increase it would impose on residents will do nothing to address the district’s chronic problems with absenteeism and poor academic performance.
Dr. Yvan Ducheine, MD, MBA, a Roselle resident since 1981, says that while the school district may genuinely need more space for students, the timing and approach of the referendum raise serious questions about fiscal responsibility and educational priorities.
“The thing is, it’s the timing,” Ducheine said. “Does Roselle need more space for students? Yes. But when you look at the rankings across the state, Roselle is a D rating.”
Property Tax Impact Raises Concerns
Ducheine expressed alarm that his own property tax bill of $16,000 on a home assessed at $210,000 could increase by approximately $2,000 annually if the referendum is approved. For residents with homes assessed at lower values, the impact would still be significant — approximately $60 per month, or $720 annually, for a home assessed at the borough average of $122,763.
“It’s going to put $2,000 on the tax base,” Ducheine explained. “If the assessed value of your home is $122,000, it’s going to add $60 a month. It’s going to put approximately $2,000 on a house assessed at $210,000.”
The referendum, which totals $87,044,201 in proposed capital projects, is divided into two questions. Question 1 seeks $79,675,228 for construction of a new Chandler Avenue school serving Pre-K through Grade 2. Question 2 proposes an additional $7,368,973 for renovations and improvements at existing district facilities. Question 2 can only take effect if Question 1 is approved.
Superintendent’s Performance Under Fire
Ducheine directed sharp criticism at Superintendent Nathan L. Fisher, who has led the district for approximately six years and is reportedly seeking a substantial salary increase as his four-year contract nears expiration. Fisher currently earns $220,000 annually.
“Before you reward — why should I give someone more space?” Ducheine asked. “The superintendent has been there for about six years, but when I look at results of his tenure, there’s no change.”
The physician pointed to troubling statistics that he says demonstrate the superintendent’s failure to improve educational outcomes.
According to Ducheine, Roselle’s chronic absenteeism at the high school runs between 14 and 23 percent. Abraham Clark High School falls among the lowest in the state, with 14 percent math proficiency compared to the state average of 38 percent.
According to School Digger, Abraham Clark ranks 375th out of 434 New Jersey high schools. The Roselle Public School District is ranked 541 out of 609 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from the leading K-12 school information website, featuring a complete directory of 136,000+ schools covering all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Abraham Clark High School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of New Jersey high schools, with significantly below-average performance on state assessments.
“And you want me to reward that by putting more money into it?” Ducheine asked rhetorically. “Space has nothing to do with bringing up the scores.”
Calls for Focus on Root Causes
Ducheine argued that the district’s problems require targeted interventions rather than new buildings. He identified health issues as a significant factor influencing absenteeism and suggested the district could apply for grants to address these underlying problems.
“Health issues influence absenteeism,” he said. “They can tailor something like apply for grants to address health issues.”
Teacher retention also remains a critical issue, according to Ducheine. “If you work in an undesirable zone,” he noted, qualified educators are difficult to attract and retain. He also expressed concern about services for students with special needs, saying, “I know many mothers whose kids have autism and they are not having the exemplary personnel to address these issues.”
Ducheine emphasized that the district should “put a plan to improve the outcome” before seeking such a massive financial commitment from taxpayers.
Financial Oversight and Governance Questions
The physician’s concerns echo broader questions raised by community members and education advocates regarding financial controls and governance in the district. Recent independent audit findings have documented weaknesses requiring remediation, raising questions about whether the district has the financial infrastructure necessary to administer an $87 million capital program effectively.
“There is a big question mark about the business administrator they hired,” Ducheine said, referencing the controversial appointment of Dr. Steven A. Lewis as School Business Administrator/Board Secretary. Lewis’s appointment was initially rejected by the Board on June 29 before being retroactively approved on August 24 — a chronology that has raised governance concerns among residents and outside observers.
Ducheine also noted that he has “spoken to several Roselle residents, including city council members,” and has found limited support for the referendum. “As far as I know, the only people who are supporting this are the people from the board of education and Mr. Fisher,” he said.
High Taxes Driving Businesses Away
According to Ducheine and other community sources, Roselle’s already-high tax burden is driving businesses out of the borough. The prospect of a significant additional tax increase has raised concerns about the borough’s economic viability and ability to attract and retain commercial investment.
“Taxes are driving businesses out of Roselle,” Ducheine said, noting that Roselle is “among the top third in terms of municipal taxes” statewide.
Superintendent’s Contract Negotiations Raise Questions
Ducheine also raised concerns about Superintendent Fisher’s contract negotiations, noting that “in the midst of all this, Fisher is trying to negotiate a big raise on top of his current $220,000 annual salary as his four-year contract comes to an end.”
The timing of the contract negotiations, coupled with the referendum vote, has created what some residents view as an awkward dynamic where the superintendent stands to benefit personally while asking taxpayers to shoulder a significant new financial burden.
Referendum Timing Criticized
A press release announcing the Bond Referendum was posted on the district website by Dr. Henry A. Dixon on July 9, 2026, while most residents were engaged in summer vacation or focused on the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence. Critics have suggested the timing was designed to minimize public scrutiny and debate.
An exorbitant tax increase won’t fix chronic absenteeism or poor academic performance, according to Ducheine, but the method of announcing the money grab is raising hackles among other residents.
State Aid Figures Require Careful Examination
While district materials highlight approximately $9.22 million in projected State aid, residents should understand that this assistance is spread over time rather than provided as a lump sum. Only $16,020,473 of the total project cost is considered “eligible” for State debt-service aid, with a stated aid percentage of 57.5521% of annual debt service on eligible costs.
The distinction matters significantly. The State considers only $8.65 million of the $79.68 million Chandler Avenue project eligible for debt-service-aid calculation, while the full $7.37 million cost of Question 2 is identified as eligible.
Community Voices Demand Transparency
The concerns expressed by Ducheine reflect a broader sentiment among Roselle residents who feel they deserve complete and accurate information before being asked to authorize such a significant financial commitment.
Supporting better schools and demanding financial accountability are not mutually exclusive positions.
Residents should be free to ask about affordability, debt, State aid, financial controls, and governance without being accused of opposing children or education.
As one parent noted, “One can support better schools and still demand rigorous financial accountability. One can recognize the need for improved Pre-K facilities and still ask whether a nearly $90 million new building represents the most sustainable long-term solution.”
Grassroots Opposition Builds
Former Roselle Councilwoman Denise Wilkerson, who also served as the borough’s Interim Business Administrator and is Executive Director of Roselle First CDC, has remained neutral on the referendum but has criticized what she describes as the “look over there, the sky is falling” method employed by referendum supporters.
Wilkerson’s post included a graphic comparing the proposed $80 million school with various borough projects, noting that the Uptown Vibes summer concert series cost the borough $14,000 using part of a $258,000 grant, while the new Roselle Library cost the borough $5.5 million plus another $11.5 million in grants.
“If you have a strong case for the referendum, you should not need a DJ invoice to make it,” Wilkerson wrote.
Willingboro Advocate Urges Caution
Nicole M. Nicholas, an Educational Equity Strategist and Child Advocate from Willingboro, has also weighed in, urging the Board of Education to decline retroactive approval of Dr. Lewis’s appointment and to require transparent review of all prior district separation records.
“My community of Willingboro is currently living through the painful, exhausting aftermath of administrative mismanagement, severe bond referendum backlash, and fractured public trust,” Nicholas wrote in letter to the Board. “We have experienced firsthand the fallout of working with Dr. Steven Lewis and other individuals who have left a trail of division and administrative dysfunction. It takes years for a school district to heal from that kind of damage.”
A Call for Facts Before Votes
As Roselle residents prepare to cast their ballots on September 15, Ducheine and other critics are urging their neighbors to demand complete transparency regarding the total principal to be financed, projected interest and debt-service costs, State debt-service assistance, the resulting long-term local obligation, anticipated project timelines, safeguards against cost overruns, the status of corrective financial controls, alternatives considered before selecting the current plan, and the governance structure responsible for administering these funds.
An $87 million authorization is not a decision affecting one superintendent, one Board of Education, one mayor, one political organization, or one election cycle. Its consequences will extend across administrations and generations of Roselle’s taxpayers.
Dr. Ducheine’s message to his fellow residents is clear: before rewarding the district with more money, demand accountability for the results that have — or have not — been achieved. Until those questions are answered, he believes the referendum remains, in his words, “a stupid idea at this time.”
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