After a failed bond referendum in September, the Hopewell Valley Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece is looking to turn the negative outcome into a starting point for better community engagement.
During a day of professional staff development in October 14, as staff attended workshops facilitated by Dr. Vicky Pilitsis and guest speakers, Dr. Treece addressed the Referendum’s process, results, and the district’s plans for the upcoming year.
“Thanks to those of you who took the time to learn about our referendum through our media streams,” Dr. Treece said, referring to the bond referendum that voters decisively rejected in a special election held on September 17. “It was not successful however, I still strongly believe that this is the best way for the district to plan ahead for some of the facility needs that we have, while optimizing the availability of funds from the New Jersey Department of Education,” she said.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
She explained that the referendum process provided an opportunity to learn from residents, and that now the district’s goal is to conduct a “listening tour” over the next few months to learn what it could have done better in getting information out to the community.
“[Residents] are asking me what Plan B is. What Plan B is, is what it always has been. We are going to do our best to make sure that we maintain the programs that we have come to expect in this district, but are going to be facing a very tough and challenging budget year.”
Board President, Anita Williams Galiano, urged the community to continue to reach out to the Board of Education or the HVRSD administration with questions and concerns, because they are the source of accurate information. Galiano emphasized that this kind of direct communication with the board will help build more trust. “It is completely offensive to me to listen to the [assertions] that this body has some ulterior motive,” she said adding that such attacks only detract from the work at hand, which is the quality of students’ education.
ADDRESSING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS
A resident who asked how the board plans to allow the public to provide feedback on the referendum process, also affirmed Galiano’s claim that voters believed discussions had happened behind closed doors. The speaker suggested that the board should open up those doors to enable public discussion, community involvement, and trust.
Dr. Treece said she has already started talking with groups of parents about what the board could have done better. They believe that communication played a big role in the Referendum’s failure, and reiterated that the Board cannot use social media venues such as local Facebook groups to post about it.
Although there will not be open discussion about what should be on the referendum, the board assured residents that it will be listening to the public’s feedback.
The HVRSD Board of Education meeting recording can be viewed here.
