Haddonfield voters have approved a $46.7 million school board bond referendum to improve the district’s infrastructure and educational offerings.
The referendum passed on Tuesday, with 2,756 votes in favor and 774 against.
The approval will bring massive upgrades to every school in the district, enhancing space, accessibility, and facilities for students and staff.
Superintendent Chuck Klaus expressed his gratitude and thanked the community for its support.
He highlighted the referendum’s potential to strengthen the district’s future, particularly in expanding early childhood education and providing more space for students.
The plan takes advantage of $9 million in state aid and will reduce the local taxpayer burden to $37.7 million.
For the average home assessed at $530,509, this translates to a yearly tax increase of about $369.
The bond includes key provisions such as expanded classroom space, full-day kindergarten programs, and athletic facility upgrades.
The district will add classrooms at Central and Elizabeth Haddon Schools, increasing elementary capacity to accommodate up to 225 students per school.
Additionally, Tatem School will have 25 classrooms, four of which will be flexible spaces.
The district’s three elementary schools will also undergo reconfiguration to include dedicated classrooms for preschool and full-day kindergarten programs.
Renovations at the high school will include two new classrooms for business and computer science programs, as well as additional space by relocating the wrestling room.
High and middle schools will see upgrades to their auditoriums, music rooms, and dressing rooms.
Furthermore, improvements to ADA accessibility will be made across all schools, including companion seating for auditoriums and smoother surfaces for playgrounds and parking lots.
Another notable aspect of the referendum is the development of the athletic complex at Hopkins Parcel, which will feature two new parking lots and a competition-sized gymnasium for school and community use.
