Harrison Township School District Advances November 2026 Referendum Planning
Dear Fellow Resident,
The Harrison Township School District continues to make steady progress toward its upcoming November 2026 Referendum, with key developments formally approved at the March Board of Education meeting.
At our March meeting, the Board approved the comprehensive Scope of Work for the referendum, representing a strategic investment in the safety, functionality, and longevity of district facilities.
The approved improvements include:
- Upgrades in security cameras in both HTS and PVS
- Replacement of the Pleasant Valley School Roof
- Replacement of heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) systems at both Harrison Township School and Pleasant Valley School
- Replacement of the Boiler/Chiller in PVS
- Replacement of the Chiller in HTS
- Replacement of fire alarm in both buildings
- Miscellaneous classroom upgrades throughout the district
- Replacement of public address systems in both buildings
Following this approval, the district’s architect, Regan Young England Butera: Referendums, Engineering, Architecture, Design (RYEBREAD), is finalizing the Project Application for submission to the New Jersey Department of Education Office of Facilities. This application reflects the Board-approved Scope of Work and is a critical step in advancing the referendum process.
In addition, the District will be applying for Debt Service Aid from the NJ Department of Education. While the District must plan financially for the full cost of the projects, securing Debt Service Aid could offset up to 35% of the total eligible project cost, significantly reducing the long-term tax impact on our community. We believe all of our proposed projects will be eligible.
Addressing Community Questions on Future Growth
District leadership has received excellent questions from community members regarding the anticipated future growth in Harrison Township and whether it would be more prudent to eventually expand our Pleasant Valley School vertically—specifically by adding a second floor to accommodate an increase in student enrollment—rather than investing in roof replacement now.
Based on thorough evaluation by the district’s architects and engineers, constructing a second floor at Pleasant Valley School is not feasible. The building’s foundation, constructed in 2001, was not designed to support an additional second level. Furthermore, the existing roof structure was not engineered to the load required for walls and flooring associated with a second-story addition.
Even if such a project were structurally possible, it would present significant logistical challenges. Construction of this scale would render the building uninhabitable for approximately one year, exposing the interior to the elements and creating a substantial risk of damage to the facility.
For these reasons, the district affirms that replacing the roof is a necessary and responsible investment at this time.
Planning for the Future
As Harrison Township continues to grow, the district will continue to evaluate long-term capacity needs. This may include consideration of constructing a third elementary school, IF enrollment trends warrant expansion. Such a future project would be separate from the current referendum, which is focused on addressing essential maintenance and improvements to existing facilities.
The Harrison Township School District remains committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring safe, modern learning environments for all students. Additional updates will be shared as the referendum process progresses.
For more information, please contact my office at (856) 478-2016 ext. 7123 or visit our referendum information page at https://www.harrisontwp.k12.nj.us/refferendum-updates, which is updated regularly to ensure our community is informed of all the details of this important project before our November 2026 vote.
As always, we thank the Harrison Township community for your continued support of our children and their growth,
Thank you,
Dr. Missy Quinn Peretti
Superintendent of Schools
