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District outlines $63.7 million bond referendum; staff and teachers urge voters to approve both questions
Summary
The district announced a March 11, 2025 bond referendum it says will fund $63.7 million in school improvements with no tax increase and 40% eligibility for state facilities aid; staff and community speakers described failing HVAC, noisy heating units and security and accessibility work proposed on the ballot.
The North Brunswick Township School District announced a bond referendum to appear on the March 11, 2025 ballot, presenting officials said the package would fund $63.7 million in district school improvements and would be eligible for 40% facilities funding from the New Jersey Department of Education.
Assistant superintendent Amy Kea read the administrative report on behalf of Superintendent Janet Choka, saying the ballot will present two questions: question one for $52.5 million focusing on HVAC systems, building-envelope repairs and ADA-compliant bathroom upgrades; question two for $1.2 million to replace windows, doors and locks to improve security and energy efficiency. Kea noted question two can pass only if question one passes.
The district told voters the referendum could proceed with a zero tax increase because maturing debt payments can be reallocated to the new bonds and because of the projected 40% state facilities aid. Kea and other presenters said there is no guarantee that the same financing conditions will exist later and urged timely voter approval.
During public comment, several district staff members described facility problems they said the referendum would address. Beth Pner, introduced as president of the North Brunswick Township Education Association, said the combination of maturing debt and state aid makes a zero-tax proposal possible and urged the community to vote yes on both questions. "There is no guarantee that this will be a zero tax increase for the taxpayer" if the district delays, she said; acting now, she said, allows state aid and better contracting conditions.
Teacher Maria Russo, a longtime North Brunswick resident, recounted classroom heating problems and said elementary classrooms have reported no confirmed HIBs so far but still need stable learning conditions. High school music teacher Cooper Ford described extreme daily temperature swings in the music wing (as low as 43—6 and as high as 91—6 on some days) and said manual, temporary fixes have been needed; he called the referendum a "smart" proactive approach to avoid repeated emergency repairs and higher costs.
The administrative report and meeting packet list additional referendum materials and FAQs on the district website (nbtschools.org). The district also noted voters may cast ballots by mail or in person at polling places open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 11.
Board members accepted the administrative report; no formal board vote on the referendum occurred at the meeting. Voters will decide on March 11.
