Berkeley Heights Referendum Results Fall Squarely Within Recent Regional Voting Trends

-Written by an Educator in the District

Yesterday, the Berkeley Heights Public Schools referendum overwhelmingly passed. The full results including the machine votes and vote by mail are listed here:

Berkeley Heights (March 2026): 72% yes/28%no for Question #1 for parking and drainage upgrades, roof replacement, security upgrades, Media Center and T.V. Studio renovations; 68% yes/32% no for Question #2 for roof replacement, mechanical and electrical upgrades, and renovation of Science and STEM labs.

Yesterday’s result can be compared to 10 nearby school district referendum proposals since 2022. All local questions below passed over the past four years, with the exception of Scotch Plains-Fanwood in September 2024 (the referendum was later scaled back and approved in January 2025). Note that some districts below had one, two, or three questions. 

Of the neighboring districts’ questions that passed since 2022, all were by an average of 67% “yes,” ranging from 54% to 79% approval. Yesterday’s Berkeley Heights results (72% “yes” for Question #1, 68% “yes” for Question #2) are very comparable to recent referendum results in New Providence, Springfield, Madison, Westfield, and Clark, while performing better by a yes/no ratio than recent referendum results in Cranford, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Mountainside, and Warren Township.

The results below are dates in chronological order.

New Providence (November 2022): 72% yes/28% no for Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning (HVAC) upgrades, new flexible furniture, roof replacement, sports bleacher replacement, track resurfacing, and staff restroom renovations.

Springfield (March 2023): 79% yes/21% no for Question #1 for safety and security upgrades, new heating and ventilation systems for classrooms, air conditioning for larger spaces, and bathroom renovations; 72% yes/28% no for Question #2 for air conditioning upgrades, more HVAC upgrades, window replacement at gymnasiums.

Madison (December 2023): 77% yes/23% no for Question #1 for upgrades to fire alarms, public address system, interior doors, and heating/ventilation upgrades as well as bathroom renovations, boiler replacements, and roofing replacement; 73% yes/27% no for Question #2 for air conditioning and window replacements; 69% yes/31% no for Question #3 for athletic field, playground restoration, gymnasium addition and two additional classrooms at an elementary school, and parking lot restoration.

Cranford (January 2024): 58% yes/42% no for Full-Day Kindergarten building/classroom expansion, updated science labs, Media Center renovation, renovated performing arts spaces, HVAC upgrades

Scotch Plains-Fanwood (September 2024): 52% no/48% yes for Question #1 on purchase and renovation of a building for a new SPF elementary school; 55% yes/45% no for Question #2 for HVAC, electrical, and fire alarm upgrades at all schools.

Mountainside (November 2024): 58% yes/42% no for reinstating staffing, added staffing, before/after school academic support, and increased student mental health support.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood (January 2025): 57% yes/43% no for Question #1 on purchasing the same building for Preschool (but fewer renovations that listed in the failed September 2024 ballot question), HVAC, electrical, and fire alarm system upgrades; 54% yes/46% no for Question #2 for operating costs of purchasing the building for Preschool including supplies, utilities, salaries, and benefits for future staffing in the new Preschool.

Warren Township K-8 (March 2025): 67% yes/33% no for security upgrades, playground replacement, public address system replacements, and interior floor repairs.

Westfield (April 2025): 70% yes/30% no for Question #1 to maintain staffing that could not fit in the regular operating budget; 64% yes/36% no for Question #2 for school building improvements; 62% yes/38% no for Question #3 for Full-Day Kindergarten expansion.

Clark (September 2025): 78% yes/22% no for roof replacements, phone system upgrades, fire alarms upgrades, hallway floor replacements, sidewalk renovations, new playgrounds, parking lot renovations.

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