The word “referendum” means vote, and a bond referendum asks voters to approve funding through the sale of bonds. Like a company’s stock certificates, bonds can be sold to investors. Property taxes are used to buy them back with interest. In this way, bonds can provide the school district with up-front funding to make long-lasting improvements similar to the way a homeowner might use a loan to renovate a kitchen. Property taxes are used to buy back those bonds, with interest.  

What would be done: (or see projects at a glance)

Academic Classroom Renovations and Additions 

• Two-story new construction with an elevator and access to both floors of the existing building
• New focused learning spaces: science classrooms, art classrooms, life skills
• Focused special education spaces
• Dedicated support spaces:nurse, child study team, guidance suites
• New interior finishes and new furnishings
• Renovations at technology, life skills, and music classrooms

Security/Safety Upgrades

• New secure visitor’s entrance and vestibule
• Traffic drop off lane at LMS
• Student parking on campus (not on street)
• Increase parking for building and event access
• Door hardware with intruder locksets
• Security glazing at vision lites to occupied spaces
• Traffic circulation revisions
• Parking expansion 
• Drop-off/Pick-up lane at High School

Capital Maintenance (Renovations)

• Roof replacement
• Lavatory renovation & ADA accessibility 
• Asbestos abatement
• Kitchen renovation
• Cafeteria renovation
• Parking lot paving
• Upgrades at existing toilet rooms including finishes, fixtures, and partitions
• ADA accessibility improvements

Auditorium Renovations

• ADA accessibility upgrades
• New audio/visual system
• New lighting and controls system
• New theatrical curtains and rigging
• New interior finishes and seating

Gymnasium and Fields Addition

• Full size court with both basketball and volleyball provisions
• Built-in bleachers to accommodate 900 spectators
• Local audio system for large assembly use
• Multi-purpose synthetic turf field
• Maintenance building/concessions stand at High School stadium

The State of New Jersey sets aside funds to help public school districts maintain their facilities. This special state aid for debt payback is given only to districts where voters committed to paying for improvements through bond borrowing. Lawrence taxpayers already contribute to the state funds that provide this aid; it will only come back to Lawrence through a voter-approved bond referendum.  

The Department of Education program that provides debt service aid has been around since 2000. This program has been the state’s primary mechanism for supporting school funding for facilities improvements, while districts preserve the annual budget for daily operations directly related to education.  

Another assurance to the taxpayers is the district’s Preliminary Eligible Cost (PEC) letters that affirm the amount of debt service aid toward the projects. As part of the referendum process, the district submitted project applications for the proposed work. These applications were reviewed and approved, with the promise that, if voters approve, the state will pay that amount to the district annually to offset the taxpayers’ share of the investment. 

Yet another assurance to the taxpayers is that Lawrence is a “net giver” in the state aid system. This means our community consistently contributes more money into the state’s education funding pool than we typically receive back. The only way to ensure that our district gets some of the money we contribute is by passing our referendum. Otherwise, those dollars will benefit other districts, leaving us paying into a system that doesn’t give back to our own schools.

If the referendum doesn’t pass, the district will still need to reconfigure grade levels because it is what’s best for our students. However, without the state funding that comes with voter approval, we won’t be able to implement the changes as part of a comprehensive, well-planned project.

Instead, we would be forced to find alternative, less ideal solutions to address space constraints. This could mean bringing in trailers or modular buildings, which would not only make our schools less appealing but also create a learning environment that is less supportive of student success and less accessible to the community members who rely on our schools as shared spaces.  Additionally, these temporary fixes could impact our community’s attractiveness to families looking to move here, potentially affecting property values and the overall perception of our district.

In addition, addressing our facility and space needs in a piecemeal approach would significantly increase overall costs. Construction prices continue to rise, and spreading projects out over many years would mean paying more due to inflation, supply chain challenges, and fluctuating labor costs. Additionally, completing projects in phases would result in repeated disruptions to students and staff, making it harder to maintain a consistent and effective learning environment.

Simply put, without the referendum, we will still have to make changes—but in a way that is far less effective and far more disruptive to our students' learning and to our town..

Vote By Mail is an option in this referendum. 

To request a Vote By Mail ballot, download the application in English ​ or Spanish. The county must receive that application by March 3 to mail you a ballot, or by 3 p.m. on March 10 to give you a ballot in person   

Property taxes are based on assessed value, not market value. A homeowner might guess at his property’s market value based on recent sales of similar homes; that can change day to day. 

In contrast, property assessments are determined by Lawrence Township and sent each year to all property owners. They do not change throughout the year. You can find that on your tax bill. The mathematical average of all home assessments in Lawrence is around $284,000.

When using our tax calculator, make sure you enter your assessed value, not market value to get accurate results (market value will return a much higher number that is not accurate).

The estimated additional tax on the average assessed home of $286K would be $310 annually ($26 per month, or 85 cents a day). If you know your home's assessed value (NOT real estate value), you can plug it into our tax calculator here.

The district has carefully considered the option of completing projects over time but has determined that it is not a viable solution for several reasons.

First, addressing our facility and space needs in a piecemeal approach would significantly increase overall costs. Construction prices continue to rise, and spreading projects out over many years would mean paying more due to inflation, supply chain challenges, and fluctuating labor costs. Additionally, completing projects in phases would result in repeated disruptions to students and staff, making it harder to maintain a consistent and effective learning environment.

Second, a phased approach would mean missing out on critical state funding. If the referendum passes, the district will receive significant financial support from the state, reducing the burden on local taxpayers. However, if we try to complete projects over time without the referendum, we won’t receive that funding, leaving local taxpayers to bear the full cost.

Lastly, our district’s needs are immediate. We are running out of space, and delaying solutions will only make the problem worse. The referendum provides a well-planned, comprehensive approach to ensuring our schools are equipped to serve students now and in the future.

Sometimes consumers might think borrowing indicates poor planning and that it results in higher costs due to interest. The opposite is true for public school districts in New Jersey. They are eligible for a special kind of state aid that only comes with bond borrowing. Districts strategically plan to group projects into a bond referendum to take advantage of that aid – which can cover about one third of the costs. That keeps project costs off the local tax bills. 

While LIS will also be undergoing an exciting physical and ideological transformation to a true Upper Elementary School, LIS is already outfitted to hold three grade levels, so there won't be any major construction projects happening here. The LIS transformation, which will consist of enhancing student and parent orientation programs, a dedicated 3rd grade wing, plus other functional and cosmetic improvements, will be executed thoughtfully, with input gathered from staff, families, and other community members.

Yes! With the addition of 6th grade in the middle school, the referendum plans include building an outdoor courtyard to be used for play,  STEAM activities, "brain breaks," and other flexible learning. There will also be an additional multi-purpose all-weather field available for middle schoolers to utilize. 

The State of New Jersey has programs for property tax relief.  

• The Property Tax Reimbursement (PTR program), otherwise known as "Senior Freeze," offers property tax reimbursements for senior citizens and people with disabilities who qualify. After applicants are approved, their property tax payments are “frozen” at the current amount, and they will receive a rebate if taxes increase because of the school bond referendum or any other reason. A 2024 law increased the income eligibility limit for the program to $150,000. More information is available on the Senior Freeze webpage or by calling (800) 882-6597.   
   

• STAY- NJ: The Stay NJ program offers property tax benefits to eligible homeowners aged 65 and older. It reimburses applicants for 50% of their property tax bills, up to a maximum of $13,000, with a 2024 benefit cap of $6,500. To qualify, you must have owned and lived in your home for the full 12 months of 2024 and have an income below $500,000. Mobile homeowners are not eligible. Stay NJ benefits are calculated after ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits are determined. Payments are expected to be issued in early 2026.
   

• Other current programs are the NJ $250 Senior Citizen Property Tax Deduction and the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR). 

Part of the developmentally appropriateness of 6th grade moving to the middle school is that they are ready for intramurals and sports, not just once a week PTO clubs.  A multi-purpose turf field will be used year-round by sports teams, marching bands, color guard, and PE classes, as well as the recreation department and other community groups. Turf fields also help to eliminate poor field conditions from wear and tear, water, and mud, making it safer for students. 

Unlike many districts that hire outside PR firms to promote their referendums, Lawrence Township Public Schools has designed and created all information-sharing materials internally.

We’ve heard some questions in the community about why the bond referendum is being held in March 2025 and not during the General Election in November 2025.  

The key reason is fundamental: The sooner we hold a vote, the sooner we can address school building needs, if the referendum is approved. Voter approval in March would allow the first phase of work to begin as soon as summer 2026.

The State of New Jersey offers five dates for school districts to hold an election – in January, March, September, November during the General Election, and December.  

After the required New Jersey Department of Education review of our proposed school improvements, the March referendum date was our earliest option to optimize work being done during the summer, with the least amount of disruption to education. 

When a referendum is approved, the architects must then create detailed designs and prepare construction documents and specifications.  

Then a competitive bidding process is held to award contracts to the lowest qualified bidder, plus an additional review by the State that is sometimes required. This whole operation takes many months, and delaying a vote from March to November could significantly impact the timeline by delaying work for another year. Some of the infrastructure that needs to be replaced may not last through that additional year.

Our mission as a district is to educate students in the least restrictive setting, and one of the goals with the LMS expansion is to provide classroom space to provide a continuum of services to our students with special needs and offer them the same programs and supports to make meaningful progress. Affording our special education students the ability to thrive in their home district also saves taxpayers the costly out of district tuitions, including transportation to those out of district schools.

Of course, student  placement in always a conversation between IEP team and the students' families,

We see this project as an opportunity to study, evaluate and improve the traffic pattern (and parking!) in and around Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School.  We have hired traffic experts in the design of this reconfiguration and believe everyone will be pleased with the outcome. 

State funding for preschool expansion is determined by New Jersey’s budget and funding formulas, not federal policies. While the political climate can shift, the state has committed funding for these programs through its established budget process and has been prioritized to support early childhood education. Any changes would require action at the state level, not the federal level, and the state remains committed to this funding. Preschool Expansion Aid not a grant that the district receives but rather a consistent funding source.

Lawrence Township Public Schools remains actively engaged with state officials and education advocates to ensure continued funding and will adapt to any future changes as needed.

Audits (CAFR and ACFR) from 2005 through 2024 are accessible on the district’s website.  Schedule C of the audit provides information relating to expenditures on a budgetary basis.  Budget Information is provided on the same website.  Interim  (Monthly) Financial Statements (Board Secretary’s Reports) are also posted on the website in the section containing Board Meeting Agendas.

Yes, Cost estimates on the website include but are not limited to the following:  1. Replacing the entire roof and the provision of a 30 year warranty. 2. Replacing the old fire alarm system with a new addressable system.  3. Replacement of Domestic hot water system.  4. Repaving Parking lots.  5.  Renovating existing toilet rooms.  6: Replacement of Electrical Services Components to the Building, 7.  Food Service areas including “Built in” equipment.

The use of referendum funds are restricted by the scope of the Bond Proposal/Ballot Question.  

If the public bids are less than estimated construction costs we can use the unspent proceeds to: 1) Pay the debt on the project, 2) Perform work within the scope of the Bond Proposal/Ballot Question. 

If the public bids exceed estimates we can rebid or make partial awards.  

Note: A strategy that may be used during bidding is to specify “Base Bid” items and “Alternate Bid” items so that you can manage your budget by awarding some or all of a given Invitation for Bids.  If costs are unacceptable we can re-bid.  The terms “Base Bid” and “Alternate Bids” are not necessarily synonymous with what is or is not “essential” to the educational program; but rather these are terms used when bidding.  

The ongoing operational costs are projected to be under $800,000—less than 1% of the district’s total annual budget of $93 million.

Why so low? Because these costs are already built into the district’s operational budget. No new staff will be hired for operations; instead, existing staff will be reassigned as grade levels are reconfigured. For example, staff may shift from LIS to LMS.

Additionally, many expenses are one-time investments—such as upgrading to LED lighting or replacing a roof—which ultimately lower long-term operational costs. Think of it like buying a home with brand-new appliances, new windows, etc.: it reduces the need for constant repairs, replacements and maintenance.

A detailed breakdown of renovation, additional, soft, and hard costs is available on the district’s website.