Florham Park Voters Approve School Improvement Plan

FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Voters overwhelmingly approved a plan Tuesday to make various improvements at several schools.

The referendum was presented in two questions.

The first question was approved with 1,565 "yes" votes, compared to 819 "no" votes.

The second question was approved 1,524 to 845.

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Approving the first question allocates $19.8 million in improvements to Briarwood and Brooklake Elementary School, and Ridgedale Middle School. The improvements include:

• Replacing the roof at Briarwood for $1.2 million
• Installing an HVAC system in Brooklake classrooms for $2.9 million
• Installing an HVAC system for $3.6 million and renovating the wellness center and the auditorium at Ridgedale for $2.1 million

The second question allocates $5 million for various upgrades at Briarwood, Brookdale, and Ridgedale schools, including renovating bathrooms in three schools.

The school portion of local tax bills will increase $13 annually for the owners of the average assessed home of $658,000.

Florham Park school officials said the upgrades are necessary because the schools date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the systems pegged for replacement are past the end of their lives, officials said.

"The schools were designed for a different time, with different systems, materials and different approaches to teaching and learning," district officials said in an explanation of the referendum, the projects, and consequences. "Updated learning spaces will allow teachers the flexibility to group students and learning experiences according to the individual needs of learners and in ways that complement and/or enhance instruction."

In related election news, three people ran for two borough council seats: Republicans Kristen Santoro and William Zuckerman and Democrat Peter Nicolas. Republican Mark Taylor ran unopposed for mayor.

Three people ran unopposed for board of education seats and another ran unopposed for a two-year unexpired term.

In East Hanover, with all eight voting districts reporting, Democrat Joseph Pannullo received 2,088 votes to Republican Angelo Tedesco's 655.

Democrat Brian Brokaw received 1,943 votes. He was on the lone person running for East Hanover Township Council.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com