North Brunswick voters reject $87M school referendum; what's next?

North Brunswick voters rejected the school district's plan to construct two schools for nearly $87.7 million, but the overcrowded classrooms and increases in student population aren't going away, officials said.

North Brunswick voters rejected nearly $87.7 million school referendum to build 2 schools. Now school officials must find new solution to overcrowding and more students.ThinkStock 

NORTH BRUNSWICK -- Voters rejected the school district's plan to construct two schools for nearly $87.7 million, but the overcrowded classrooms and increases in student population aren't going away, officials said.

"We are still overcrowded," said Brian Zychowski, the school district's superintendent. "We still need a long term plan to meet the current over crowding and the increases in population we are expecting."

Zychowski said officials and members of the board of education are "very disappointed" that the referendum that called for construction of a new elementary school for 5^th and 6^th graders and one for children aged 3 and 4 on 32 acres of land near the Renaissance development on Route 130 south, lost Tuesday by 402 votes -- 1,582 to 1,180.

http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/12/north_brunswick_voters_to_cast_ballots_on_87_milli.html

"I'll meet with the board and we'll go through our next steps," he said. "We will have to take temporary steps, use temporary structures, to educate our children now, but we have to be very strategic. We'll continue to do the best we can, but we need a long term solution."

The project was expected to increase taxes about $284 a year for the average taxpayer.

The superintendent said the school population has increased from 4,300 in 1995 to 6,300 in 2015 and growth is anticipated to increase approximately 9 percent or 575 students by 2020.

There are currently 900 students in fifth and sixth grades, officials said. There are four elementary schools.

The referendum drew loud opposition in the final weeks before the election. A group, led by longtime resident, Richard Pender, campaigned against the proposal.

Pender said the school board and Zychowski had not shown him enough explanation for why entire project, including the land, would cost nearly $87.7 million.

"I'm not opposed to schools or to school expansion," Pender said. "But $87 million to build a school for 3 and 4-year-olds and 5^th and 6^th graders?"

Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.</p