Hopewell Valley friends, we have a problem. School infrastructure that keeps our children healthy and safe is in desperate need of replacement. HVAC systems are failing. Roofs are deteriorating. Students are learning in decades-old trailers. At the same time, growing enrollment is straining our classrooms.
These problems are too large and too numerous to be addressed by the school district’s regular operating budget, which must fund day-to-day educational expenses.
The good news is we have a plan: The Hopewell Valley Regional School District will hold a Nov. 4 bond referendum, asking the community to approve funding for school infrastructure projects and building expansions. The two-question proposal would allow the district to make improvements proactively instead of waiting for emergencies that will interrupt student learning and cost more over time due to inflation. If voters approve both referendum questions, state funding will contribute $20.2 million toward the $84.2 million project costs—a big savings.
The quality of our schools is central to the well-being of our students and our community.
The research is clear: When communities invest in basic school infrastructure like plumbing, HVAC, roofs and boilers, children learn more and test better, are less likely to be absent from school, and have better mental and physical health. When we care for our school buildings, we’re not just fixing pipes—we’re laying the foundation for stronger academic outcomes and healthier, more resilient kids.
And, the impacts extend far beyond children’s school years. Students whose schools are adequately funded are more likely to lead productive lives as adults.
The wider community benefits too. Not surprisingly, when communities choose to invest in their schools, local businesses flourish, home values increase, and families prosper in a safe and welcoming environment. A recent study from the nonprofit Washington Center for Equitable Growth estimated that every $1 invested in school facilities yields $3.27 in economic growth — and that’s just the financial benefits.
Delaying this work will come at a cost.
If we don’t act now, here’s what will happen in the short term: Class sizes will increase across the district while our elementary school children continue to learn in cramped, aging trailers. The district will have no choice but to fix roofs and HVAC systems as they fail. Work done on an emergency basis will result in higher costs to taxpayers and far more disruptions to learning. The money for band-aid fixes will likely come from cuts to teacher positions and school programming. In the long term, we will all feel the social and economic impacts in academic progress, student well-being, and in the desirability and stability of our community.
The future of our community is tightly bound to the future of our schools. In November, voters will have a big decision to make on a bond referendum that has implications for both. Hopewell Valley, let’s choose to make a strategic investment in our schools now as a lasting commitment to the health, safety and stability of this community we love.
Pamela Lilleston is a social scientist and member of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education. She writes in her capacity as a private citizen, and not in her capacity as a board member. The commentary was not authorized by or written on behalf of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education, and solely represents her personal opinions. Links to cited research studies are included in the online version of this commentary.
