Cedar Grove shifts back-to-school nights, schedules four referendum forums before Sept. 15 vote

The Cedar Grove Board of Education voted through routine business Monday after the superintendent announced a calendar change and outreach plan aimed at informing voters ahead of a referendum scheduled for Sept. 15.

Superintendent Dr. Tran said the district is moving back-to-school nights one week earlier in 2026–27 so the events occur before the referendum vote; the change shifts the schedule to provide more opportunities for families to hear information about the proposal. “By moving these nights up by a week, we have more of an audience before the 15th to just inform community members about the referendum vote,” he said.

Dr. Tran also said he will announce four dates this summer for community forums, one at each school. He said the forums will include either an architect or the district’s bond counsel so residents can ask technical questions and that the district website will be updated with details. He encouraged community members to check the website and said phone and email inquiries would be answered.

Why it matters: the referendum date (Sept. 15) frames the district’s outreach timeline; the change is intended to increase attendance and public understanding of proposed improvements the referendum would fund. Dr. Tran framed the calendar shift as a scheduling change designed to increase public engagement, not a change to instructional days.

Next steps: the superintendent will post forum dates and materials on the district website and hold the summer forums; the referendum remains scheduled for Sept. 15 as stated at the meeting.