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Board approves submission of 19 referendum project applications after heated debate over public details
Summary
The Berkeley Heights Board of Education voted to authorize architects to submit 19 project applications to the state to establish a pool of candidate projects for a possible March 2026 referendum, prompting trustees and residents to press for clearer cost, scope and public-engagement plans before questions are drafted.
The Berkeley Heights Board of Education voted June 26 to send 19 preliminary project applications to the New Jersey Department of Education as a first step toward a possible March 2026 referendum.
The superintendent, Dr. Kim Feltry, told trustees the submissions are an early, high-level stage: they request state review and do not bind the district to specific referendum questions or final budgets. "This is the very first step in the process to get the approval," Dr. Feltry said, adding that state responses will clarify which projects qualify for enhanced funding and which require full local financing.
Why it matters: approval of the applications keeps the district on a schedule that could allow a March 2026 vote, a timeline several trustees described as tight. Board members and public commenters pressed administration and consultants for clearer, public descriptions of what the district would actually ask taxpayers to approve and whether any items (for example, lights, athletic facilities, media centers) could be prioritized or removed after state review.
What the board debated: trustees repeatedly asked whether submitting a broad set of projects effectively commits taxpayers to a single cost figure. Dr. Feltry and staff said the applications create a "pool" of projects the district could include in one or more referendum questions; the final structure, question wording and costs would be developed later and would require board approval and public outreach. Trustee Bill Zakiri urged the board to form an ad hoc referendum committee and hold community events before questions are finalized.
Public reaction: resident John Magcguirez told the board he supports upgrades but criticized the lack of detailed scope and cost on the agenda. "The public should have the same information as the district at every step of the process," he said during the agenda-only public-comment period.
What happens next: Dr. Feltry said state review of the applications will take several months; if the state approves projects, the board will work with architects and consultants to translate approved projects into referendum questions, prioritize items, and conduct public engagement. Trustees asked for more granular estimates and a public schedule; staff committed to follow-up meetings and additional committee work before any final referendum questions are brought to the full board.
