On June 3, your Board of Education voted unanimously to put a bond referendum on the Sept. 24 ballot. The proposal reflects what we learned during last year’s process, and is based on a significantly reduced project scope and cost. It focuses on One Rutherford – a unified community that both counts on and benefits from quality schools.
The school board’s formal action is one step in a series that will wrap up with YOUR vote and the votes of other community members. Together, those votes will determine how Rutherford Public Schools will address critical needs caused by higher enrollment, evolving education standards, and aging facilities.
The school board and administration have spent several years researching the district’s needs and forecasting how to manage its future. After last year’s vote, we dedicated time to understanding the various opinions that residents held as they cast ballots. Now we’d like YOU to learn: about the district’s needs, the proposal to meet those needs, and what residents have to do to make their votes count.
A great starting point is www.OneRutherford.com, which explains the components that make up the revised proposal. The site includes FAQs and a way to contribute your own questions to that list. We’ll use the site to list future presentations and building tours that meet our goal of providing multiple opportunities for residents to learn more. Also on the site, you can access voter information such as forms for registering or updating registration, and for requesting a mail-in ballot. To participate in this important referendum, you must be registered by Sept. 3 – the day after Labor Day.