MOORESTOWN TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Focus on the Future Bond Referendum
Path to a bond referendum
Moorestown Township schools are among the best in New Jersey, known for academic excellence and valuable extracurricular opportunities.
Some of our district's buildings and infrastructure need attention to match the high-caliber education we provide. Older HVAC systems and roofs are ready for replacement, space is insufficient for current and future students, and athletic areas are due for improvement, among other issues.
A bond referendum is an opportunity to receive state funding toward building needs that support instruction.
We are preparing for the future by taking steps toward a referendum in March 2025. Check this website often for updates and community engagement opportunities.
Watch to get the FAQs
Three members of Moorestown Township High School's Video Production Club interviewed Interim Superintendent Mr. Joe Bollendorf about the bond referendum and what the proposed projects would mean for Moorestown schools.
Watch the YouTube video to hear answers to 10 frequently asked questions about the referendum.
Upgrades under consideration
Expanded and flexible learning spaces for students
Safety and security enhancements
Improvements to athletic areas
Parking and traffic flow
Drainage improvements
Energy-efficient HVAC and lighting
Improvements to outdoor play spaces to enhance accessibility, functionality and security
Address aging infrastructure - roofs, HVAC/boilers, building exteriors, electrical
Responsible planning benefits everyone
Students and staff: Renovations would improve student spaces in every school. Updates also would create the space and flexibility needed to reduce class sizes and accommodate various learning needs.
Community members: All residents can take pride in the excellent school system that helps define Moorestown Township. Some projects under consideration include spaces that are or would be used by the community.
Taxpayers: When repairs and other projects are included in the annual budget, local taxes cover the entire cost. Through a bond referendum, the state pays for a percentage of the projects, reducing the amount needed from taxpayers. The state will review the district’s proposal before notifying us of the amount of aid we’d receive with voter approval. That information will be shared on this website once it is available.
WHY NOW?
Moorestown Township Public Schools will soon pay off debt from a previous referendum. That presents an opportunity to manage the tax rate with strategic timing of a new investment.
Our elementary schools need space now, and that need will only increase with anticipated growth.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain old equipment and find replacement parts. Plus, new HVAC systems and lighting would be far more energy- and cost-efficient.
Space issues are curricular issues
Lower elementary schools: Some grade levels are at capacity. Year to year, students have been sent to other elementary schools in the district rather than their neighborhood school because of insufficient space. If this trend continues, class sizes will grow beyond board-approved maximums.
Upper Elementary School: We now house fourth through sixth grades at UES, which means trying to maintain an elementary school environment for fourth- and fifth-grade students and a middle school schedule for sixth grade. This does not align with best practice.
The opportunity to address space issues through a bond referendum would create a more optimal curricular experience across the district. Building onto all our elementary schools is not feasible for environmental and other reasons, and constructing a new building would come at an expense that we would not want to ask of our taxpayers. The most viable, cost-effective option is to build an addition at the middle school, which would mean:
Following best practice by educating sixth-grade students at the middle school
Reimagining UES as a pure elementary school for third, fourth, and fifth grades
Freeing up space at Baker, Roberts and South Valley elementary schools to ensure reasonable class sizes and alleviate the capacity issues that sometimes divert students from attending their neighborhood schools
What's different about this proposal?
Moorestown Township Public Schools held an unsuccessful bond referendum in 2019. Some of the same building needs still exist, since there’s simply no way to address most large-scale improvements through the regular budget.
We listened to the community, and incorporated data and feedback into the process. More than 1,000 residents provided input through a community-wide survey. Here's how this plan is different:
The previous proposal would have added four classrooms onto each side of WAMS. The new plan would add more space and separate students by grade level.
The new referendum addresses current needs for athletic areas, including updates to Isenberg Gym and the tennis courts at the high school, plus a full-size middle school gym addition that would be available for community use
More HVAC equipment is now in need of replacement. By making energy-efficient upgrades through a referendum, state aid would cover one-third of the costs.
This proposal takes a big-picture approach to site work, particularly the need for traffic enhancement .
How can the community stay involved?
We want the community to be part of this process.
Leading up to the referendum, we will inform and engage the community through an expanded website, social media, printed materials, outreach events and more. We look forward to creating the best possible future for our students and community.
