Voters across New Jersey dealt mixed results to 16 ballot questions pertaining to their public schools yesterday, ranging from bond issue referenda to questions about reducing the number of members on the boards. Most districts across the state also selected school board candidates. Six of eight school construction projects were approved, either fully or partially. But four of five tax levy questions, which sought voter approval to increase property taxes above the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap, were defeated. Included among the defeated questions was one in Wayne, Passaic County, where voters were asked to approve a $2.1 million increase that would expand the district’s kindergarten from half-day to full-day. In other ballot questions, one Warren County district, Alpha, approved a measure to shrink the size of its school board from nine to seven. The same question was posed to voters in nearby Knowlton Township, but results were not yet available. In Lacey Township, Ocean County, voters said “no” to a question that would have shifted school board elections back to April, from November. The district was the first in the state to propose such a change since most districts moved school board elections to November, following enactment of a 2012 law permitting the change. Results of ballot questions are as follows:

Moving Election to April

Lacey Township: DEFEATED

Township voters were asked if the district’s school board elections should be moved from the General Election in November, back to the third Tuesday in April. The township moved its elections to November in 2012. In school districts with April elections, voters act on proposed school budgets each year.

Reducing Size of Board

Alpha: APPROVED

Knowlton: APPROVED

Two Warren County districts, Knowlton and Alpha, asked voters if the number of members on each board should be reduced from nine members to seven. In Knowlton, the question on the ballot read, “due to our decreasing enrollment and an inability to fill the current nine seats” the board felt it would be in the best interest of the district to reduce the board size. “This will make it easier to fill the necessary quorum and continue to function as an effective board,” the ballot read.

Tax Levy Questions

Under statute, voters may approve property tax revenue above the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap. Five school districts placed such questions before voters.

Netcong (Morris County): DEFEATED

A proposal asked voters to authorize $200,000 to fund two new elementary teachers, to reduce class size, and also to increase part-time art, music and Spanish positions to full-time.

Wayne (Passaic County): DEFEATED

Voters were asked to approve an additional $2,114,250, to fund the expansion of the district’s kindergarten program to a full-day program.

Cape May Point (Cape May County): APPROVED

Newfield (Gloucester County): DEFEATED

Elmer (Salem County):  DEFEATED

All three districts are “non-operating,” sending their children to neighboring communities through tuition agreements. Voters in the school districts were asked to authorize increases in property tax revenue to cover recurring shortfalls that originated with a state aid reduction in 2010-2011. Cape May Point sought voter approval to raise an additional $50,000. Newfield asked for voter approval to raise an additional $563,873. Elmer sought voter approval to raise an additional $645,897.

Construction Bonds

Voters in eight school districts were asked to approve construction bonds to fund additions, renovations and/or other improvements. State funding would cover at least 40 percent of eligible construction costs.

Statewide

Total project costs proposed: $116,902,886 Total project costs approved: $48,211,551 State funding proposed: $36,736,037 State funding approved: $18,464,475

Gloucester County

Clearview Regional APPROVED

Renovations to high school, middle school and administrative office, including creation of two STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) instructional areas for robotics and computer-assisted design and enhancement of overall technological capacity in the three buildings. Total Project: $1,995,000 State Funding: $800,110

Hunterdon County

North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional DEFEATED

Renovations to North Hunterdon and Voorhees high schools, including transforming libraries at both schools to multi-media interactive student centers; installation of an artificial turf field at Voorhees High School; renovations to the Field House at North Hunterdon High School; and other improvements. Total Project: $7,324,335 State Funding: $1,732,440

Middlesex County

Spotswood APPROVED

Improvements to school facilities, including installation of telecommunications systems, security systems, upgraded fire alarm and HVAC, high school locker room improvements, track upgrades, various other improvements. Total Project: $9,343,707 State Funding: $3,157,457

Monmouth County

Marlboro Township DEFEATED

Renovations and improvements to seven schools, plus an addition to the district’s Early Learning Center Elementary School. Total Project: $46,642,000 State Funding: $10,660,000

Somerset County

Somerset Hills Regional APPROVED

Renovations and upgrades to school facilities, to include improvements for ADA compliance, and renovations at Bernards High School to convert a former auditorium to a library/media center, and conversion of the current library/media center to special and general classrooms. Total Project: $5,829,094 State Funding: $2,331,637

Ocean County

Point Pleasant Beach APPROVED

Renovations to include roof replacement and repair, bleacher replacement, HVAC upgrades, and other improvements. Total Project: $9,900,000 State Funding: $3,910,605

Salem County

Pennsville Township

Two-part proposal to include renovations and improvements to high school, middle school and three elementary schools.

Proposal 1: APPROVED

Various renovations and improvements. Total Project: $20,900,750 State Funding: $8,167,466

Proposal 2 (contingent upon voter approval of Proposal 1): DEFEATED –

Result was by eight votes; awaiting results of write-in ballots. Additional improvements and renovations to same schools. Total Project: $14,725,000 State Funding: $5,879,122

Sussex County

Green Township APPROVED

Proposal to replace unit ventilators at Green Hills School Total project: $243,000 State Funding: $97,200

School Board Member Elections

In addition, voters in 522 school districts selected school board candidates in the General Election. Four years after legislation permitted local school boards to move their elections to November, almost all New Jersey districts have done that: Only 16 school districts still hold elections in April. Another 43 districts have appointed boards.

A total of 1,861 candidates were seeking 1,528 open school board seats across the state, meaning there was a ratio of 1.22 candidates running for every available seat. Last year, there were 1.23 candidates per seat.