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Board outlines March referendum questions, schedules public forum Jan. 28
Summary
Board members said the March 11 referendum will present three separate questions on roofs, HVAC and site/athletic work; a public information session is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Board members presented details about the district’s planned March referendum and encouraged residents to attend an informational forum on Jan. 28 in the high school auditorium.
Board member Mr. Zelensky told the public the referendum vote is scheduled for March 11 and described three separate ballot questions: work on roofs at district buildings, HVAC upgrades at each building, and site work including repaving parking lots, renovating bathrooms, replacing the high-school gym floor and upgrading the turf field behind the high school. "Question 1 is really a roof question for every building. Question 2 is HVAC work at each building. And then question 3 talks about repaving our parking lots, renovating our bathrooms, high school gym floor, turf field behind the high school," he said.
Zelensky and other board members said voters would be able to vote on the separate questions rather than being presented with a single, bundled package. He also said the board expects state reimbursement to offset a portion of costs and that district materials — including an interactive website — explain details and voting options. "It's a 40% discount because the state will give us back 40%" was how the reimbursement was described during the meeting.
Why it matters: the referendum would authorize capital spending and related bond financing that would affect district facilities and could change the district’s capital budget and tax impact for residents.
Logistics and outreach noted at the meeting:
- Referendum date: March 11 (normal polling places; vote-by-mail options available). - Public information forum: Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lacey Township High School auditorium; the architect, district financial professionals and the district’s lawyer were scheduled to attend the forum to answer technical questions about project scope and financing. - Materials: The district launched an interactive referendum website with question-by-question detail and financial information; board members encouraged residents to consult the site and attend the Jan. 28 session for factual information rather than social-media claims.
Board members said they had visited Trenton to testify before the New Jersey Department of Education regarding state aid cuts that the district argues have reduced funding. The board urged residents to attend the Jan. 28 forum to get answers "from the people that wrote the questions," said Mr. Zelensky.
The board did not take a separate vote on the referendum questions during this meeting; the remarks were part of committee and board updates and outreach planning.
