Morris school referendum votes: West Morris approved, Boonton Twp. fails

William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record
·2 min read

Voters in the West Morris School District overwhelmingly approved a $26 million referendum Tuesday while a similar $15 million proposal failed in Boonton Township.

Both districts were seeking funds for repairs, improvements and expansion of school facilities. The West Morris referendum passed by a vote of 2,303 to 1,255 in a district operating two regional high schools serving the Mendhams, Chesters and Washington. Voters in the single-school K-8 district in Boonton Township denied the referendum by a vote of 521 to 404.

Combined voter turnout for the two questions was 12.2%, according to the Morris County Clerk.

Boonton Township will 'evaluate'

Boonton Township officials hoped to offset the cost of their project proposals with $4.7 million in qualifying state aid that required the referendum to pass first. The district hoped to use the funds in part to replace outdated systems and "improve the school environment" for the 400 students at the K-8 Rockaway Valley School. High school students in the township attend Mountain Lakes High School, where that district is currently seeking a tuition increase from Boonton Township.

Walking through Rockaway Valley School ahead of a March 12 $15 million referendum vote, showing aging 1959 infrastructure, outdated facilities and storage in leaky hallways. Superintendent Dr. Christian Angelillo points to aging boilers.
Walking through Rockaway Valley School ahead of a March 12 $15 million referendum vote, showing aging 1959 infrastructure, outdated facilities and storage in leaky hallways. Superintendent Dr. Christian Angelillo points to aging boilers.

“Our responsibility to address the building needs at Rockaway Valley School does not end with this vote," Superintendent Dr. Christian Angelillo wrote in a statement on Wednesday. "The board and administration will evaluate community feedback before deciding how to move forward. We will keep our community updated on the process. We appreciate Boonton Township voters taking the time to learn about the projects and cast their ballots."

The Boonton Township proposal included a new HVAC system for air-conditioned classrooms, updated boilers for heating, additional storage space, a security vestibule for the school entrance, renovations to the nurse's office and an art room and completion of a roof replacement that began in phases over the past two years.

$8 million in state aid for West Morris

The West Morris approval unlocks $8 million in state aid for planned projects that include partial roof replacements and parking lot improvements, cafeteria and kitchen upgrades, technology labs and air conditioning in all classrooms and common areas at West Morris Central High School in Washington Township and West Morris Mendham High in Mendham.

Updates also will be made to the fieldhouse shower and storage facilities at both schools as well as to the culinary arts room and public address system at West Morris Mendham.

Combined, the two schools serve about 2,100 students in southwest Morris County.

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris school referendums: West Morris approved, Boonton Twp. fails