The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education unanimously adopted a $105.8 million budget for the 2025–26 school year Monday night during the monthly board meeting held at Hopewell Elementary School, the latest stop in the board’s tour of district buildings.
The presentation, a final review of the budget already shared in previous meetings, emphasized the district’s mounting infrastructure needs, reliance on local funding, and efforts to preserve student opportunities amid fiscal constraints. The approved plan includes a 4.3% general fund tax levy increase, exceeding the state’s 2% cap due to waivers granted for rising health care costs and growing student enrollment.
“It’s a bigger increase than people are used to,” said Assistant Superintendent Robert Colavita, “but without these adjustments, we’d be looking at painful cuts like other districts around the state.”
The new budget will increase the school tax bill for a home assessed at $500,000 by an estimated:
- $281 in Hopewell Borough
- $295 in Hopewell Township
- $343 in Pennington Borough
Local funding accounts for 92% of district income, with state aid at just 7% and federal funding less than 1%. Despite receiving $400,000 more from the state this year, the district was shorted nearly $1 million under the state’s funding formula due to limited state revenue.
The board and administration emphasized that the budget reflects months of planning and aims to preserve existing student experiences. Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece noted that some changes—such as the loss of the auto shop program—came through attrition rather than cuts. She reiterated the district’s commitment to programs like STEAM, athletics, and extracurriculars.
To help offset costs, the district will reintroduce athletic and co-curricular activity fees and raise transportation fees. However, Treece stressed that no student should miss out due to financial hardship.
“You don’t have to be on free and reduced lunch to tell us that you need a little extra help,” she said. “We don’t want kids missing out on opportunities because folks can’t afford it.” Letters will also be sent proactively to eligible families to ensure access.
To control costs, the district continues to operate a self-insured health benefits program, which outperformed the state plan by more than $1 million this year. Staff also handle more in-house repairs and maintenance, reducing reliance on outside contractors. Additional savings come from cooperative purchasing and a continued shift to Google-based systems and Chromebooks, which lowers technology expenses.
A pie chart shown during the meeting revealed that staff salaries and benefits comprise nearly 80% of the total budget, with general and special education as the next largest categories.
There were no comments from the public about the budget during the public hearing.
Board President Anita Williams Galiano thanked the administration and board for their long hours of review and internal dialogue. “There’s been a lot of pencil sharpening and back-and-forth,” she said. “I’m proud of the homework that’s been done to move this forward.”
Tour of Hopewell Elementary Highlights Building Needs
Before the meeting, the community was invited to tour Hopewell Elementary School with Principal Dr. Scott Brettell, and some students to showcase the school and point out some of the ongoing facility concerns that need to be addressed as part of a proposed referendum that will happen in the fall. The building—like others across the district—faces aging infrastructure, including roof and HVAC needs that are part of the upcoming referendum conversation.
Students Open with Songs and Service
The fifth-grade vocal ensemble from Hopewell Elementary opened the meeting with three selections: “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the school song, and a lively rendition of “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Later, students helped present donations to John Haney, executive director of the Chubby’s Project, in recognition of the school community’s ongoing support of the local food assistance initiative.
District Seeks State Support for Inclusive Playground at Bear Tavern
The district has submitted a formal $125,000 budget request to the state Legislature to help fund a universally ADA-accessible playground at Bear Tavern Elementary School. The total project is expected to cost $250,000, with the district pledging to cover the remaining half.
The existing playground—scheduled for removal as part of the planned school expansion—is not ADA compliant. It features a wood-fiber surface and lacks ground-level equipment, limiting access for students with mobility and sensory needs. The new design includes a poured rubber surface and inclusive play structures that would meet ADA and universal accessibility standards.
Board member Dhruv Kapadia, who chairs the government relations committee, emphasized that the request reflects the district’s values. “This project is about more than a play structure—it’s a reflection of our commitment to inclusion, equity, and student well-being,” he said.
The funding request marks the district’s first-ever attempt to secure a direct line item in the state budget. In addition to seeking support from local legislators in the 15th district, the board is encouraging residents to contact state representatives to advocate for the project.
Kapadia also noted that the committee has scheduled a meeting with Mercer County Executive Dan Benson to discuss segregation across the county’s school systems and to explore joint programming or events—such as a countywide field day—that could promote collaboration and inclusion across district lines.
Community Applauds Green Week and Tree Plantings
Several parents and residents thanked the district for this year’s Green Week events, which included environmental speakers, school-based sustainability projects, and a red oak planting ceremony at every school. At Hopewell Elementary, students and staff celebrated with a “Tree Jubilee” that included mindfulness, land acknowledgment, science lessons, and cheers for their new tree. The participants reminded the board that being together outdoors is so significant for mental health.
