Lawrence Township families are invited to attend a public forum Wednesday, Oct. 15, to learn more about the next steps in the district’s $94.9 million school referendum.
The event, hosted at Lawrence Middle School, will focus on the construction and renovation timeline for facilities approved by voters in March. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., with the forum scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. Childcare and refreshments will be provided.
According to the district, the forum will offer residents a chance to hear directly from the architects, ask questions, and participate in a discussion about how the planned projects will shape the future of Lawrence Township Public Schools.
“We look forward to seeing you there,” the district said in an announcement.
Superintendent Dr. Robyn Klim said the community’s support for the referendum reflects “a collective vision for the future of our schools.”
“Now the exciting part begins: transforming those plans into real improvements for our students and community,” Klim recently said in her column in the Lawrence Gazette.
The referendum passed on March 11 by a vote of 2,677 to 1,756, according to unofficial results from the Mercer County Clerk’s Office.
With 4,433 ballots cast, turnout among Lawrence’s 26,100 registered voters was approximately 17%. The measure received support from nearly 60% of voters.
“This is an exciting moment for LTPS,” Klim said following the vote. “We are creating a stronger academic experience for our students and ensuring our facilities meet the needs of 21st-century learning.”
The $94.9 million bond will fund a wide range of projects across the district’s schools, including major renovations to the 75-year-old Lawrence Middle School and the expansion necessary to transition sixth grade into the building.
Among the first projects to begin construction is a renovation of the Lawrence Middle School auditorium, a well-used space for student performances, concerts, and assemblies.
Planned upgrades include more wheelchair-accessible seating and a new ramp that leads from the back of the auditorium to the stage.
A second elevator and accessible bathrooms are also proposed for the school’s upcoming addition, which will include a two-story expansion featuring new classrooms, flexible learning spaces, an expanded cafeteria, a full-size gymnasium, and a reimagined outdoor courtyard.
“These upgrades aren’t just about bricks and mortar — they are about creating a refreshed, future-ready middle school that will welcome sixth graders for the first time once construction is complete,” Klim said.
The improvements also include specialized learning spaces for science, art, life skills, and services such as special education, guidance counseling, nursing, and child study teams. Security enhancements, traffic flow redesigns, and upgraded parking facilities are also part of the plan.
Safety and infrastructure maintenance are key focuses, with projects like roof replacements, asbestos abatement, kitchen upgrades, and bathroom renovations scheduled across several schools. Athletic fields, gymnasiums, and auditoriums will also receive improvements.
Accessibility upgrades are planned at multiple schools, including a new ADA ramp at Slackwood Elementary and a set of accessible bathrooms at Lawrence Intermediate School.
Klim emphasized that every department in the district—from facilities and technology to curriculum—has a role to play in ensuring that “every new or renovated space supports learning, wellness, and growth.”
District officials have pledged to keep residents informed throughout the multi-year process. The Oct. 15 event is the first in a series of “Community Conversations” meant to foster transparency and collaboration.
“Our schools are the heart of our community, and this investment in our schools will have a lasting impact,” said Lawrence Township Board of Education President Michele Bowes. “We are profoundly appreciative of the community’s support in making this vision a reality.”
The referendum is expected to raise annual school taxes by less than $350 for a home assessed at the township average of approximately $285,000.
For more information, visit www.ltps.org/referendum.
