Princeton BOE Votes To Place $13M Bond Referendum On November Ballot

PRINCETON, NJ – During Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, board members voted on a resolution to place the $13 million bond referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Residents who head to the polls will now have to vote on the bond referendum question.

The funds will go towards improving security, technology and facilities across all six district schools.

According to district officials, state aid would pay 31 percent of the debt service for the estimated $12,998,050 project costs only if voters approve the measure.

If voters approve the referendum, the owner of a home assessed at an average of $848,037 could expect to see a tax impact of $103.72 a year.

“This is all part of a strategic, manageable approach to spread out the costs of the improvements needed in our schools,” Carol Kelley, Superintendent of Schools, said. “The availability of state aid makes a bond referendum a logical choice to fund these priority projects. We need to keep pace with school security and technology standards, and improve facilities that our students depend on every day.”

Funds from the bond referendum will go to four main areas – security, maintenance, technology and wellness and sustainability.

The district plans to install two security vestibules at the high school entrances, door and hardware upgrades at the middle and high schools and updated security cameras and protective window films at all schools

The high school cafeteria and kitchen will be renovated, and at the middle school’s roof will be replaced. Funds will also go toward improving the drainage at elementary school playgrounds, athletic field resurfacing, pool upgrades and fencing replacements.

The high school EcoLab, a wetlands habitat used by science students, will also get repairs and improvements.

The district will also upgrade to a 10G network at all schools, adding cell service boosters where needed.

In the upcoming November elections, voters can cast their ballots in person on Election Day or by mail.

Those who have previously applied to vote by mail should receive ballots starting in late September.

The district plans to share more information with the community in the weeks ahead through social media, a bond referendum website and community outreach.

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