Rockaway Valley School is more than a school building; it is a second home for our children, a gathering place for families, and a community asset that has served generations of Boonton Township residents. A strong public school system benefits the entire community – including residents who do not currently have children in the district – by helping make Boonton Township a desirable place to live, work, and raise a family. Investing in the school helps preserve an important public asset while creating safe, modern spaces for today’s students and future generations. By maintaining a strong school and community, we are investing in the long-term strength and vitality of Boonton Township. 

Many of the school's major building systems are approaching the end of their useful life. Building infrastructure, mechanical systems, alarms, and instructional spaces require significant upgrades to prevent more costly repairs, reduce disruptions, and ensure the building continues to serve students safely and effectively. 

Today's students learn differently than they did when Rockaway Valley School was built, requiring flexible spaces that support science, STEM, art, music, and small-group instruction. The district is already experiencing space challenges, with teachers sharing classrooms, moving between rooms, and using converted storage areas for instruction. As enrollment and programming needs continue to grow, these temporary solutions are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.  

That is why the addition projects qualify for 34% state aid for eligible project costs – the maximum amount of state aid available for an eligible project. This significant funding opportunity reflects the state’s recognition of the need for additional instructional space and helps make addressing these needs now more financially feasible for Boonton Township taxpayers. 

If voters approve the referendum, the district would receive approximately $7.2 million in state aid to help offset project costs. Boonton Township residents already contribute to these funds through state taxes, but the district will access this funding through voter approval of a bond referendum. 

The building’s needs will not disappear if the referendum is not approved. Aging building systems will continue to require repairs and could experience unexpected failures, potentially leading to costly emergency repairs and disruptions to the school environment. Space limitations would also remain, meaning students and staff would continue to work in crowded, shared or repurposed spaces that do not provide the learning environments needed to fully support today’s educational programs and improved academic outcomes.

Construction costs may also continue to rise, making these improvements more expensive in the future. The district would also lose access to the available state aid, meaning future improvements could cost local taxpayers more. Addressing these needs now allows the district to take advantage of available state funding, proactively address aging infrastructure before more significant failures occur, create learning spaces designed to better support students and their academic success, complete the work efficiently and spread the local cost over a 20-year period.