The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education has approved a September special election for a $87.1 million bond referendum to improve schools in the district.
Hopewell Valley voters will head to the polls on Sept. 17 to approve or vote against the bond referendum.
“Some people have asked why Sept. 17 and not November,” Superintendent Rosetta Treece said. “The quicker we can go to referendum, and should we be lucky enough to have it pass, the quicker we can go out and start projects that are pending …
“Some of them are crucial projects to keep our buildings running in a way that we expect them to run.”
The school board voted to move forward with the referendum during a meeting on July 15.
Proposed improvements are for all six schools in the school district – Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS); Timberlane Middle School (TMS); elementary schools – Bear Tavern, Hopewell, and Stony Brook; and Toll Gate Grammar School.
Referendum projects include roof replacements; indoor improvements; HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) improvements; exterior door replacements; synthetic turf field; and an auxiliary gym floor replacement.
Robert Colavita, business administrator and assistant superintendent, shared that 27% of the projects are eligible for state share (support).
Treece acknowledged a statement released by the Hopewell Township Committee on July 15 reaffirming the township’s commitment to help with financial costs for improvements to Bear Tavern by using a portion of the revenue from its payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with developer Lennar.
Lennar is the developer behind the Hopewell Parc residential development off Scotch Road in Hopewell Township, which consists of more than 1,000 units.
“The estimated cost of construction of the new Bear Tavern wing is $17.1 million, which represents approximately 19.6% of the total amount of the referendum,” they said.
“The Hopewell Township Committee noted in 2016, and has reinforced over the years, that it is committed to using a significant portion of the funds from the PILOT to offset any costs of improvements at Bear Tavern Elementary School that may, at least in part, stem from any additional students that will come from our court-approved affordable housing plan.”
They added that the PILOT agreement with Lennar notes using PILOT funds to support the Hopewell Valley Regional School District and the new senior and community center.
The Township Committee explained that while they are committed to helping offset the costs for any Bear Tavern improvements, the township is unable to commit to a specific number. Currently litigation with Hopewell Borough and Pennington is on appeal regarding the township’s PILOT.
“If the referendum passes, and the appeal is decided in Hopewell Township’s favor (and is not appealed further), the township can have substantive conversations with the HVRSD about a specific dollar amount for a contribution towards improvements at Bear Tavern,” they added.
Bear Tavern referendum projects outside of a 10-classroom building addition are cafeteria renovations, replacing deteriorating doors, the creation of a second well, and replacing various HVAC systems.
