Hopewell Valley community members can hear more about the Nov. 4 bond referendum and ask questions during a Virtual Town Hall being hosted by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District (HVRSD). The virtual session will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6-7:30 p.m., and will be recorded for those who can’t join live.
Attendees can hear from a panel that includes HVRSD administrators, including principals with firsthand knowledge of building issues and space needs, the district’s architect, and financial advisors.
The Virtual Town Hall will be held in a webinar format, and audience members will be invited to submit questions through the chat feature.
The community can also hear more details about the building needs in a series of principal videos that are now posted on hvrsd.org/vote. The district’s six principals discuss how space shortages and aging infrastructure, such as roofs and HVAC, are impacting students and staff – and how the proposed referendum projects would help.
The bond referendum is grouped into two questions. Question 1 can pass independently, but Question 2 cannot pass unless Question 1 also passes.
Question 1 projects include:
Replacing roofing that is beyond its useful life; replacing obsolete HVAC equipment; adding A/C to Timberlane Middle School gym; installing new classroom doors with enhanced fire resistance and security features; replacing deteriorated exterior doors; renovating the Bear Tavern cafeteria; modifying the Toll Gate driveway for improved access; repaving Central High School solar lot; refurbishing entrance walkways at Timberlane and Bear Tavern; and improving drainage at Stony Brook
- Cost: $58.4 million
- State aid: $19.9 million
- Estimated annual tax impact: $248 for Hopewell Borough; $284 for Hopewell Township; $294 for Pennington Borough
Question 2 projects include:
Building a Bear Tavern addition with room for eight to 10 classrooms; building a Toll Gate addition for six classrooms; relocating the current Toll Gate nurse’s office to a larger space with an ADA-accessible bathroom; converting the existing room at Toll Gate to a physical education office with a student bathroom; renovating the existing nurse’s office into a space for small-group instruction
- Cost: $25.8 million
- State aid: $333,321
- Estimated annual tax impact: $164 for Hopewell Borough; $188 for Hopewell Township; $194 for Pennington Borough
Tax impact is based on the average assessed value of $408,445 in Hopewell Borough, $477,718 in Hopewell Township, and $488,135 in Pennington Borough.
Find much more information about the referendum, including FAQs, videos, projects at each school, and funding facts at hvrsd.org/vote.
Use this link to join the Virtual Town Hall on Oct. 9.
