Rebuilding Our ��s Initiative, Referendum Timeline Hit Overdrive

At Washington Street Elementary ��, rain escapes from outside through old windows and into classrooms. Problems like this will be addressed thoroughly if the district's referendum request-- on the ballot for a Jan. 22 vote-- is approved by Toms River residents.

District Schedules Multiple Regional Meetings in Advance of Jan. 22 Vote

UPDATE (Jan. 3, 2018): to hear an audio file recorded reminder about the upcoming regional referendum meetings from a High �� North student.

Toms River Regional ��s has scheduled three regional meetings to further discuss its .

The district is hopeful the community will approve, through a Jan. 22, 2019 referendum vote, to repair and restore facilities at its 18 school buildings, three outbuildings, and grounds across its 52 square miles.

During the 2017-2018 school year, informational were held and the projects discussed at public board meetings for the purpose of actively seeking public feedback in order to craft the best proposal. Those meetings proved immensely productive; the district, however, was forced to place the Rebuilding Our ��s Initiative on to intensify its focus on thanks to a revised state funding formula.

As , district leaders now have a rescheduled referendum voting date of Jan. 22 and a renewed commitment to the crucial initiative. Three regional public meetings have been scheduled in advance of the Jan. 22 vote.

Jan. 3, 2019: East Side Regional meeting at High �� East auditorium, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Jan. 7, 2019: North Side Regional meeting at High �� North auditorium, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Jan. 8, 2019: South Side Regional meeting at High �� South auditorium, 6:30 - 8 p.m.

All district families and Toms River residents are strongly encouraged to attend one or several meetings to learn more about the initiative, the referendum, and its associated projects.

While a comprehensive facilities assessment revealed more than $153 million in necessary repairs for buildings that were described as “crumbling�� in community surveys, the district pared down the referendum request to approximately $100 million across 25 years. Through its , Toms River Regional ��s has managed to target and undertake projects-- such as the -- within the confines of the cost-neutral program which will save taxpayers $17 million.

Some of the projects that the question on the referendum ballot will address include:

repair and repaving of parking lots and driveways
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
door and window replacements
improving accessibility through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
safety and security upgrades
school-based projects, like secondary science labs and elementary playgrounds

This information and much more-- including timelines, photo galleries, the latest news, and even a tax calculator-- is accessible on the district’s .

PostedNov 29, 2018

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A cracked parking lot at Intermediate East, stained ceilings at High �� North, and a rusted-over playground at Washington Street Elementary �� are but a few examples of problem areas in desperate need of immediate attention, which the district’s referendum will address.

Completed projects like the boiler room at High �� South-- funded entirely which is self-funding with no impact on taxpayers-- exhibit the district's efforts toward cost effectiveness. Nonetheless, the upcoming referendum will, Toms River Regional leaders hope, address a number of high-priority facilities repairs, improvements, and upgrades throughout the district. The vote is Jan. 22.

Left: Earlier this year, representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education and its renovated boiler room. To the left, Board President Russell Corby and Superintendent David Healy explain to NJDOE Deputy Assistant Commissioner A.R. Hasan and Maryellen Cervenak how ESIP fully-funded the project.