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District launches March 11 facilities referendum: $52M HVAC and repairs, plus separate windows/doors question
Summary
School leaders and staff described chronic HVAC failures, water leaks and non-ADA bathrooms and urged voters to approve two referendum questions on March 11. The first question is described as about $52 million (HVAC, masonry, ADA bathrooms); the second is just over $1 million for windows and doors; the district said projects qualify for roughly 40% state aid.
District leaders used the Jan. 29 board meeting to launch public outreach for a March 11 referendum that would cover two questions for school facilities improvements.
Administration described Question One as a roughly $52 million package that would replace or upgrade HVAC systems, improve building envelopes and masonry, and bring bathrooms into ADA compliance. Question Two was described as just over $1 million for window and door replacement and lock upgrades. The district said these projects qualify for about 40% state aid, and administrators framed the timing as taking advantage of retiring debt so projects could be completed with no tax increase to local homeowners.
"We have an opportunity to put to the voters a referendum to improve our facilities ... it is the best time to reinvest because we can do it zero cost to our taxpayers and get a lot of impact," a district official said while introducing a five-minute video about the proposals.
Multiple teachers and staff urged the community to vote yes. Beth Pner, president of the North Brunswick Township Education Association, described classrooms with extreme temperatures and said the referendum would address longtime health and safety issues. "The HVAC needs to be replaced and this is the opportunity to get something like that done," she said. Heather Angeles, a physical education teacher and resident, described water pouring into a gym during a field-day event and said masonry repairs included in the referendum would address that hazard.
Speakers also emphasized the state aid formula: administration said qualifying projects receive about 40% reimbursement from the state, which the district said would reduce local cost.
The board asked administrators to begin community outreach; the district posted an information page and FAQs on NBTschools.org and previewed printed and video materials. The referendum is scheduled for March 11, 2025.
Next steps: the district will continue outreach and voters will decide on the two questions on March 11. The board did not take a binding vote on the referendum at this meeting; it presented information and accepted public comment in support of the questions.
