Watchung Hills $3.8M School Referendum To Go Up For Vote Tuesday

WARREN, NJ — Warren, Watchung and Long Hill residents will be voting on Tuesday, Sept. 24 to decide on a $3.8 million school referendum for electrical upgrades and an improved media center.

The Board of Education is emphasizing that by passing this referendum it will have a zero tax impact on taxpayers, meaning they will not raise new taxes to fund the projects. Instead the projects will be funded 40 percent by the state aid and the rest from existing capital reserve funds.

"I would like to reiterate that this bond referendum has no impact financially on taxpayers," Superintendent Elizabeth Jewett stated.

If the referendum does not pass, the district will scale back the Media Center project to what the BOE can fund without the state aid and with only their existing capital reserve funds.

With the funds, the board will upgrade the electrical panel to replace outdated operational systems with upgraded systems for increased safety.

"The electrical system is beyond its useful life as most of the panels are over 50 years old. The systems have been very costly to repair and there will come a time when repair is no longer possible and replacement will be the only option," according to the BOE.

The redesign and renovation of the Media Center is an outgrowth of the BOE's 5-Year Strategic Plan through which they have established a district goal to "Integrate creative, innovative, and interdisciplinary learning throughout the district to empower and inspire students to succeed in a changing global community."

The upgrade to the Media Center will expand and redesign the existing space, incorporating areas for collaboration, independent study, large group instruction, experiential learning, and enhanced use of technology, including video production and virtual reality.

Anyone who is registered to vote in Warren, Watchung or Long Hill Township can vote on the referendum. Residents do not have to be a homeowner to vote, they just need to be registered to vote in these towns.

For more information on the referendum visit the district's website here. For questions or concerns, contact School Business Administrator, Timothy Stys, at 908-647-4800, ext. 4850, or Jewett's office at 908-647-4800, ext. 4890.

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