The Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education met on January 27 at Bear Tavern Elementary School with approximately 50-60 people in attendance to discuss critical financial challenges, including increasing class sizes and anticipated reductions in state aid. Prior to the meeting, Board members and community members participated in a tour of Bear Tavern Elementary School, where they observed aging facilities, deteriorating doors, temporary classrooms, and the site of a potential future addition.
Budget pressures and growing class sizes
The Hopewell Valley Regional School District is facing significant financial challenges, with class sizes expected to increase and the District bracing for a possible reduction in state aid.
District leaders warned that class sizes are likely to grow in the coming years, according to Superintendent Rosetta Treece, who noted the difficulty of maintaining smaller classes without additional revenue.
“Class size will increase,” Treece said, explaining that the days of adding extra sections of classes in schools to keep class size lower were over. “We can’t afford that anymore.”
Assistant Superintendent Robert Colavita and the board discussed how years of maintaining tax increases below the 2% cap contributed to the current budget shortfall. Colavita emphasized the financial strain, stating, “I mentioned the 2% levy cap. Everything that we do is going up greater than 2%. All salaries district-wide are somewhere in the general area of 3.5% increase. Health benefits are double-digit increases. The state average health benefit waiver for next year is 14%. And state aid—we’ve been advised to expect less this year. We had a meeting with the County superintendent last week and told him that would be devastating to our district.”
“I’ve been here since Dr. Smith, the former superintendent, was here, and he was jumping up and down about these things 13 years ago when I got here because we saw that fiscal cliff coming, and we kind of kept holding it together,” said Treece. “We are there. We’re hanging on the cliff with our fingernails. We can’t work it out anymore.”
Impact of budget realities
During the presentation Treece highlighted The Impact of Further Reductions, emphasizing that the District has already made the maximum feasible cuts. Additional reductions, she said, would directly affect core programming and facilities. Key points included:
· Class size increases beyond current projections.
· Potential elimination or full-cost charges for courtesy busing—raising transportation costs for families.
· Further reduction of supplies throughout schools.
· Possible elimination or phase-out of certain world language courses at the secondary level.
· Elimination of the auto shop program.
· Elimination or reduction of district-funded field trips, shifting costs to families.
· Reinstatement of athletic and extracurricular fees that had previously been waived or reduced.
· Restructuring of K-12 exploratory offerings, impacting elective and enrichment courses.
· Elimination or consolidation of administrative positions, increasing responsibilities for remaining staff.
During both of the public comment periods of the meeting, several parents and community members expressed concerns about the impact of growing class sizes on student learning and teacher effectiveness.
Speakers emphasized the challenges that larger class sizes create, including reduced individual attention for students, increased workloads for teachers, and the potential decline in overall academic performance. Some parents voiced frustration, noting that class size increases had been a growing issue in previous years, and they worried that further reductions in staff or resources would only exacerbate the problem.
Additionally, some community members called for more transparency from the district on how budget constraints and expected cuts would impact specific grade levels or programs.
Possible second referendum
Last year, district officials placed a comprehensive bond referendum before voters in a special election that was defeated https://mercerme.com/hopewell-valley-school-bond-referendum-defeated-in-special-election/. The board shared that if they want to pursue a second referendum, it would be held during the November general election—an approach they believe could draw broader voter turnout.
Because of the extensive approvals required by the State and the time needed for project planning, officials stressed the importance of starting the process as soon as possible. The first major deadline is February 2025, when HVRSD must finalize the referendum projects and costs to submit to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) for approval.
At the meeting, administrators and architects presented details on a potential second referendum, tentatively planned for November 2025. They discussed structuring the referendum into two separate questions:
· Question 1 would address critical infrastructure needs, such as roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, security enhancements, and other urgent maintenance items. If approved, the state would fund about 33 percent of these eligible projects.
· Question 2 would fund expansions at Bear Tavern Elementary and Toll Gate Grammar School, focusing on adding or renovating classroom space to accommodate increasing enrollment and specialized programs.
Officials noted that by state law, Question 2 can only move forward if Question 1 passes. Some parents in attendance suggested the Board consider combining the proposals into a single question, arguing that all improvements—both infrastructural and programmatic—could be addressed more effectively through one unified measure. Board of Education members indicated they would continue to weigh community feedback before finalizing the referendum format.
The total cost of the critical infrastructure projects in Question 1 totaled $59,208,000 and the expansion projects in Question 2 totaled $25,625,000 for a total of $84,833,000. Treece said that the district has met with the three local municipalities to talk about what is needed for the schools. She said that they had a promise from Hopewell Township to pay for the Bear Tavern expansion if the municipalities can finalize pending litigation.
“They (the mayors) left that meeting with that promise that they’ll pay for that addition if they can come to an agreement and they’re working with the lawyers now,” said Treece. “Hopefully we’ll have that answer soon and then that question can come off the proposed referendum.”
The presentation highlighted the potential consequences if a new referendum does not pass:
· Adverse Impact on Students and Instructional Programs: Larger class sizes, more re-districting, and reduced services.
· Failures of Critical Building Systems: Costly emergent repairs, system shut-downs, vacated rooms/areas, and a diversion of district funds, which would directly impact student comfort and the learning environment.
· Rising Construction Costs: If the referendum is deferred, costs will only continue to increase, making future repairs and upgrades even more expensive.
Administrators emphasized that the referendum is not only about upgrades but about ensuring the District’s long-term financial sustainability and maintaining a safe and effective learning environment.
Capital reserves
The Board also reviewed its capital reserve funds, noting that while the District has several million dollars on hand, much of that money is already earmarked for emergency repairs and ongoing maintenance projects. Officials explained that it is crucial to maintain a healthy reserve so the District can quickly address unexpected facilities failures—such as a failing boiler or roof leak—without resorting to emergency borrowing.
However, they emphasized that these reserve funds are insufficient to cover major renovations or new construction. Larger and more complex projects, like full-scale HVAC replacements or building expansions, typically exceed the resources available in capital reserve. As a result, the Board views an additional funding mechanism, such as a successful bond referendum, as necessary to keep schools operational, safe, and equipped to handle future enrollment growth.
“What we can’t plan for are the emergencies,” Treece said. “That is why you have to keep a capital reserve because these emergencies can sometimes get into the millions of dollars.”
The District shared examples of millions of dollars of repairs and replacements that have taken place since the referendum last fall.
Next steps and community engagement
The Board will be discussing the proposed referendum in the coming months, as they work on meeting the required deadlines for the referendum to get on the ballot in November. The Board encouraged residents to attend the municipal meetings in Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, and Pennington Borough to discuss with those leaders the importance of contributing any PILOT money to help bring down the cost of the project.
Other discussions at the meeting
In addition to money discussions, the board addressed several other key topics:
· Educator Awards: The Board recognized outstanding teachers and staff through the Governor’s Educator of the Year program. Educators from six district schools were honored for their dedication and impact on students. Jami Taranto, Jamie Adler, Lauren Fesmire, Pamela Weltz, Leah Anderson, Douglas Morrison, Denise Ewing, Kerry Roell, and Theresa Montagna all received awards.
· SmartPass Implementation: A discussion was held on the District’s rollout of the SmartPass digital hall pass system. While administrators cited improved security and accountability, some students and faculty raised concerns about restrictions and the system’s ease of use. The district committed to continuing to tweak the system and thanked everyone for the comments.
· Lice Cases in Schools: Parents and board members also discussed reports of lice cases within District schools, emphasizing the need for clear communication when these cases enter the classroom.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Feb. 24, and will be held at Toll Gate Grammar School with further discussions on budget allocations and the referendum. To watch the recording of the school board meeting on YouTube, visit Bulldog TV at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQRROItzzwo.
