Moorestown superintendent says referendum vote delayed to fall; bus depot to remain on campus pending consultant review

Dr. Courtney McNeely, superintendent of the Moorestown Township Public School District, told the board at its February meeting that the district has postponed a planned March 2025 referendum vote and is aiming to hold the vote in the fall, with September the earliest feasible date.

The move follows a delay by the state in issuing preliminary eligibility and cost letters, McNeely said, which gave the district time to “take a thoughtful pause” and re-evaluate project plans designed to add instructional space at Moorestown High School and make improvements to athletic fields on Bridgeboro Road. She said environmental challenges remain under review and that those challenges could push project completion back by two years.

Why it matters: The referendum is intended to add instructional space at the high school and make improvements across the district. McNeely emphasized the primary goal is instructional space and that discussions about the bus depot should not overshadow that purpose.

Board clarification and next steps A board member clarified during the meeting that the referenced “two-year delay” pertains to construction and project completion timelines, not to postponement of the referendum vote itself. The board member said the district still intends to pursue a vote as soon as it can be scheduled — with September, November or December offered as possible dates — and that architects and consultants will present a refined plan to the public before the vote.

McNeely said the district is considering options that keep the bus depot on the existing campus; she asked stakeholders for patience while the administration, architects and consultants finalize those plans and prepare public presentations. The board said it plans further public engagement, including a community ambassadors meeting and presentations by consultants, to explain project scope and costs.

Public response and context During public comment, multiple residents thanked the board for replanning the bus depot location and for engaging the community. One resident, speaking for a neighborhood group, thanked the board and McNeely for meeting with neighbors to discuss alternative locations. Another public commenter urged continued attention to community concerns as the district finalizes plans.

What the board did at the meeting The board did not vote tonight on referendum design, funding or site selection; it approved routine agenda items (minutes, calendars, policies and operating matters) and asked administration to present consultant-developed plans to the public prior to a final decision or referendum. McNeely said more detailed public presentations will follow but did not give a date for those presentations.

Provenance: The district’s update on the referendum, the bus depot location, and the clarification about the vote timing appear in the board discussion that began with Dr. McNeely’s remarks and the subsequent board member clarification (transcript excerpts identified below).

Lede excerpt provenance: "As you know, I jumped right into this referendum process in January... I am pleased to give you this update on the location for the bus depot. The delayed response from the state gave us an opportunity to take a thoughtful pause..." (transcript segment starting at 823.06)

Closing excerpt provenance: "While while we do not, we're not going to put it at the UES. Doctor McNeely had mentioned a 2 year delay. That is not a 2 year delay in a referendum vote. We are still moving forward with the vote as soon as as possible..."

Ending: The board signaled it will continue public outreach and that consultants and architects will present refined plans in advance of the fall referendum; no final site or vote date was set at the February meeting.