When I walk through our schools today, I am reminded of the transformative public education I received at HVRSD. I see the same hallways where I developed lifelong friendships, the same classrooms where I grew curious about the world, and the same spaces that shaped me into the community leader I am today.
But five years after graduating, and now as a member of the board of education, I see leaky roofs, HVAC systems long past their prime, growing class sizes and instructional spaces that haven’t kept pace with our students’ needs.
This is personal.
I ran for the board of education not to reminisce about the past, but to fight for our future. To ensure every student—regardless of identity, ability, or socioeconomic background—has access to the safe, equitable and inspiring learning environment I was fortunate to grow up in. That’s why I am asking our community to learn about the upcoming bond referendum. Let me be clear: This referendum isn’t about luxury—it’s about necessity. It’s about classrooms where students can focus without sweating through a history lecture or shivering during a science exam. It’s about reinforcing ceiling tiles stained from active leaks in the Bear Tavern library.
It’s about upgrading aging heating systems in Toll Gate and Timberlane before they fail. It’s about preventing redistricting and preserving Hopewell’s cherished small class sizes. It’s about moving our youngest students out of cramped, outdated modular trailers and into secure, modern indoor classrooms.
We’ve listened to community members. Last year’s controversial proposals — turf fields, concession stands — are gone. What remains is a strategic, essentials-only plan focused on the core needs of our students and staff: $39 million for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and electrical equipment. $13.7 million for repairing roofs, replacing deteriorated exterior doors, and fixing drainage issues. $29.8 million for improving and expanding space for students.
As a recent student, I can tell you firsthand: When the building suffers, learning suffers. Families move here for our schools, and our rising property values show it. And as a current board member, I can tell you: This plan has been meticulously designed, rigorously vetted, and carefully budgeted for maximum fiscal responsibility. Through our Finance and Facilities committee, we’ve selected projects that will secure an estimated $20 million-plus in state aid with voter approval, offsetting the burden on local taxpayers.
Whether we like it or not, referendums like this have become a necessity across New Jersey, where the state’s 2% tax levy cap has made it nearly impossible for school districts to keep up with rising operational costs while saving for long-term capital expenses. Look around us: Princeton approved a $89.1 million referendum. Lawrence passed one for $94.9 million. Our neighbors recognized a fiscal reality: The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of investment.
As a board, we’re taking that lesson to heart. In the past year, we’ve worked extensively beyond the boardroom — exploring funding sources outside the local tax base — to bring new dollars home. As chair of our newly created Government Relations committee, I led the successful effort to secure our district’s first-ever state budget appropriation: $125,000 toward a fully ADA-accessible playground at Bear Tavern Elementary.
This effort complements our continued partnership with the Hopewell Township Committee, which brought in a pledge of $16.1 million for the expansion of Bear Tavern. While the project is still included in the referendum due to the township’s PILOT funds being held up in court, those dollars are earmarked for direct tax relief and will be used to pay down the projects’ debt service once available.
Together, these wins demonstrate the proactive, student-focused leadership our board prides itself on, and it’s the same urgency we bring to this referendum.
I’m living proof of what a Hopewell Valley education can offer. From kindergarten at Stony Brook to my diploma from the Central High School, this district gave me the foundation to earn a full ride to Boston University and pursue a master’s at Harvard. That story isn’t mine alone; it’s the product of a district where expert educators challenge and support students at every level, where exceptional special education services are among the best in the state, and where AP courses and extracurriculars rival those of elite private schools. Hopewell Valley is consistently ranked among the top public school districts in New Jersey—a state ranked #1 in the nation for public education.
Public education is one of our greatest collective responsibilities. We can’t keep asking our students to learn in buildings that are falling behind.
They deserve better. Hopewell deserves better. I invite you to learn more, ask questions, and make your voice heard. Visit hvrsd.org/vote to stay updated.
This isn’t just a vote on our buildings—it’s a vote on the future of our community’s next generation.
Dhruv Kapadia is a member of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education.
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