Hopewell Valley community members will have a chance to learn about the Nov. 4 bond referendum and ask questions during a Virtual Town Hall.
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 Hopewell Valley Regional School District 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.
