Bond Referendum On Moorestown School Improvements Set For Nov. 5

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown voters will head to the polls this fall to vote on a proposal to improve safety and security, expand space and sustain facilities throughout the school district.

The Moorestown Public School District Board of Education approved a proposal to go out for a bond referendum on a single question in the November elections on Tuesday night, the school district announced.

The total cost of the plan is $25,656,013, with the state picking up $6,693,330 of the cost and $18,962,683 to be raised locally through taxation.

The resulting tax rate increase would be 3.75 percent over 20 years. That translates to $161.19 on the average home valued at $454,032. The referendum will be held as part of the general election on Nov. 5. To view the breakdown of what work would be done and how much would be spent at each school, click here.

See related: Council Set To Introduce Budget With 2.48 Percent Rate Increase

Over the past few months, the district said it has identified the need to expand space, particularly in the district’s elementary schools. The district has instituted short-term solutions, but is seeking a permanent fix, officials said.

That fix includes construction and reconfiguring grade levels and schedules. Elementary students would be returned to their original schools, while the district could institute smaller class sizes. A full-day kindergarten program is part of the plan, and the school is preparing for potential growth as new developments are built to meet the township’s affordable housing obligations.

“The key to our success is being prepared and staying ahead of the space issue,” school officials said. “We know from experience that failing to do so often has negative outcomes including higher costs, larger class sizes, programs being cut or delivered substantially differently and even operating under temporary and costly modular facilities/trailers.”

The district will also look to improve safety and security measures in the district.

“The safety of all our children, staff and community in the Moorestown Township Public Schools is our No. 1 priority,” officials said. “While a significant portion of the construction will be to create space and improve security, we also want to be good stewards of tax dollars, maintain property values and provide a structure all Moorestown Township residents can be proud of. To accomplish this, we need to maintain and improve our physical systems with an emphasis on long-term sustainability and energy efficiency.”

Presentations, supporting materials and Q&A documents will be posted on www.mtps.com/referendum and on the Moorestown Public School District’s Facebook page. There will also be public forums scheduled to discuss the issue with the public.

The board and administration are interested in engaging with groups of 10 or more community members. To request attendance at a meeting, or for more information, email mtpsreferendum@mtps.com.