UPDATE: Verona Approves $27.7M School Improvement Plan

VERONA/CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Verona residents overwhelmingly approved Tuesday a $27.7 million plan to bring much-needed improvements to schools.

There were 2,224 "yes" votes cast, compared to 1,281 "no" votes for question one. For question two, 2,057 "yes" votes were cast and 1,423 "no" votes.

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Together, the initiatives will cost the average homeowner $18 a month, or $216 a year, on the schools portion of their municipal tax bills.

The referendum was the third and last part of a multi-step, multi-year process to improve district facilities. It comprised of two questions.

Related: Verona To Vote On Sweeping School Referendum Nov. 5

One question asked residents to bond for $22.2 million for various projects spread throughout the district:

• New roofs at all schools
• Enhancing security systems at all schools
• Repairing boilers
• Replacing the track at H.B. Whitethorne Middle School
• Improving the locker and training rooms at H.B. Whitethorne and Verona High School
• The resurfacing of all playgrounds at all elementary schools

The second question asked residents to approve bonding $5.5 million to install air conditioning in all schools. That part of the project would only move forward if voters approved the first question.

In related Verona election news, four people ran for two, three-year terms on the board of education: Sara Drappi, Jim Day, Glenn Elliott, and Lynn Halsey.

Drappi and Day received the most votes cast with 1,608 and 1,701, respectively. Elliott received 1,109 votes and Halsey received 1,267.

In Cedar Grove, three people ran unopposed for board of education seats. Michele Mega and David W. Schoner Jr. ran for three-year terms. Leonard Splendoria ran for a two-year unexpired term.

Mega received 1,174 votes while Schoner received 1,072. Splendoria received 1,026 votes.

All results are unofficial until approved by the Essex County Clerk's Office.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com