Lawrence Township board highlights Slackwood investments, accepts $10,000 LTEF grant and reminds voters of March 11 referendum

The Lawrence Township Public School District Board of Education on Dec. 11 heard a facilities presentation focused on Slackwood Elementary, received a $10,000 grant announcement for environmental education, and approved routine personnel and consent motions while reminding residents that a district referendum is set for March 11.

Vanessa Bakarciak, assistant superintendent for student services, standing in for Dr. Robin Klim, told the board the referendum vote is scheduled for March 11 and said the measure is “to expand and renovate our 75-year-old middle school to make space for our 6th grade,” urging residents to pick up informational refrigerator magnets and vote-by-mail forms available at the meeting.

Bonnie Giglio, executive director of the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, presented a $10,000 donation from Church & Dwight’s employee giving fund for the Stream Watch Scientists grant, which she said will fund “outdoor learning experiences and hands-on, collaborative environmental education opportunities” at Slackwood and Eldridge Park elementary schools. Giglio said the program will engage kindergarten through third-grade students in local stream observations and watershed learning.

Tom, the board/business official who led a slide presentation on facilities, walked trustees through recent investments at Slackwood Elementary, citing security vestibules, upgraded flooring after asbestos abatement, new HVAC and sinks, smart boards, a terrazzo floor, a maker-space/library conversion and a counseling center with an on-site pantry. The presentation emphasized that many improvements are complete and that Slackwood’s historic character was preserved while modern safety and instructional systems were added.

During the business report, administrators told the board that a planned shuttle service for LIS came back with unexpectedly high contractor quotes—where an earlier estimate had been near $60,000 the low contractor proposal arrived at roughly $115,000—prompting the district to explore hiring its own driver and using district vehicles to keep costs manageable.

Public comment included a question from Dan Brennan, who identified himself as a district employee and resident, asking whether the district’s general operating budget is strained by the referendum and how the district’s administrator exchange program with China benefits Lawrence students. Brennan asked, “Would it be fair to say that the budget is tight due to the referendum?” Administrators responded that the referendum and the general operating budget are not connected and that the exchange program is largely grant-funded and intended to build curricular and relationship benefits; the board offered to follow up with Brennan offline because the public input segment is not a question-and-answer forum.

The board moved and approved a number of consent and personnel items, including adoption of prior meeting minutes and grouped personnel motions (P1–P34), student/board member items (SBM 1–22) and new-business consent items (NB 1–16). The board recorded the motions, took roll-call votes and the chair declared the motions carried. Patricia Nelson, a longtime employee in the superintendent’s office, was recognized on the evening’s agenda for her retirement after nearly 18 years of service.

The board also reminded the public that a community town hall about the referendum will be held Feb. 4, 2025 at Lawrence Middle School and encouraged residents to check the LTPS website for updates. The meeting adjourned following the routine approvals.

Votes at a glance: Adopt minutes (motion made by Miss Evans, seconded by Miss Groger) — motion carried; P1–P34 (personnel approvals) — motion carried; OIS 1–9 (policy/operational items) — motion carried; SBM 1–22 — motion carried; NB 1–16 (new business consent items including resignations/retirements) — motion carried; motion to adjourn — carried.

What’s next: community town hall Feb. 4, 2025 on the referendum and the referendum vote on March 11, 2025.