There are five times a year when districts can propose bond referendums to voters, and it is typically when the school has much-needed improvements it cannot afford.
Glassboro voters approved a $24.5 million bond referendum on Nov. 4 to expand preschool capacity, increase school security, and make utility improvements across the district. This move will double the current classroom space for preschoolers, bringing the district up to the New Jersey Board of Education’s suggested standards.
There were three questions on the referendum, the first question being a gateway for the other two to be considered, needing to have won a majority of the votes.
The Glassboro Public Schools District is the only school district in South Jersey to hold a bond referendum in this election, and it was the first one in the Gloucester County School System proposed in a decade. The ballot measure was divided into three questions, and it passed by a sizable margin, according to unofficial results from the Gloucester County Board of Elections.
The approval clears the way for major projects to begin, including roof replacements, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) repairs, security upgrades, the previously mentioned additional preschool classrooms, upgrades to athletic fields, ADA-compliant restrooms at the football stadium, and more.
Melanie Sweeney, principal of the J. Harvey Rodgers School, sees things through the lens of an administrator and a parent.
“For J. Harvey Rodgers, this referendum is truly transformational. By adding nine new preschool classrooms, we will be able to serve over 90 percent of the three- and four-year-old’s in Glassboro,” said Sweeney. “That level of access is incredibly meaningful for our community because it ensures that nearly all our youngest learners will have the opportunity to experience a high-quality, inclusive, and developmentally rich early learning environment. These funds allow us to create modern, safe, purpose-built spaces that match the needs of our students and support strong tier one instruction within smaller and more developmentally appropriate learning communities.”
The district’s residents owning property valued at more than $192,572 will see an increase of $204 in their annual property taxes, equaling $17 per month. The increase will take place in August 2026. The district will also receive an additional $329,000 in state aid.
Superintendent of the Glassboro Public School District, Dr. Al Lewis, who took office in July, said the funding will address problems that have been decades in the making.
“This bond addresses our most pressing capital needs: safety, security, and building maintenance. In good conscience, we can’t let a leaky roof exist. That represents us not being faithful stewards of the community’s investment,” said Dr. Lewis.
A bond referendum is a type of local election that allows residents to vote on whether school districts should borrow money for large-scale construction or repairs, rather than using the school budget, which mainly pays for teaching salaries, classroom materials, and maintenance. Essentially, a bond acts like a long-term loan, repaid through property taxes.
Glassboro’s annual operating budget is roughly $45 million, leaving little room for major construction projects, as Dr. Lewis stated why the district felt the bond was necessary.
With an annual operating budget of roughly $45 million, little room is left for major construction projects, making the bond referendum incredibly important to the district.
“We have HVAC units that are far out of warranty and roofs that leak,” said Dr. Lewis. “If one breaks, it’s more expensive to repair than replace. We have to protect what taxpayers have already paid for.”
The district expects to receive state aid that will reimburse local taxpayers for roughly 19% of the total construction cost. Any savings, Dr. Lewis said, will be returned through future tax adjustments.
The referendum will fund three main areas: security upgrades, including shatter-resistant windows, reinforced doors, and redesigned entryways to control visitor access. The mayor’s office has already supported some small-scale security improvements, but the bond will fund the larger structural changes.
Bond referendums, like the one passed in Glassboro, are crucial investments in our community’s future. While they come with a tax impact, they ensure our children learn in safe, modern schools that inspire curiosity and success,” said Dr. Jean-Marie Gaetane, the dean of Rowan University’s College of Education.
The funding also expands Glassboro’s preschool program at J. Harvey Rogers School, doubling its capacity from nine to 18 classrooms. That will allow the district to serve roughly 90% of eligible three-and four-year-old’s, up from just under half today.
“As Dean of Rowan University’s College of Education, I see firsthand how strong public schools strengthen the educational pipeline and create meaningful partnerships that benefit both students and the broader Glassboro community,” said Dr. Gaetane.
With the referendum approved, the district will begin the behind-the-scenes work, meeting with bond attorneys, finalizing project designs, and soliciting construction bids.
Much of the construction will take place over the summer of the following year, when the school sessions are finished, to avoid disrupting classes. All projects are expected to be completed within three to five years.
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