School board maps referendum options and April vote
The Livingston Township Board of Education reviewed what must be designed, priced, and submitted if voters are asked to decide a facilities plan on April 27.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — board reviews facilities referendum options and, public comment period (any topic), and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Board members heard the same question from several angles: what would the project cost taxpayers, and what tradeoffs would follow if the district asks for more space?
The calendar is starting to drive the buildings debate. The Livingston Township Board of Education spent part of its meeting walking through referendum planning with the district architect, focusing on an April 27 target and the work needed to reach it. The discussion centered on schematic requirements, cost planning, bidding strategy, and whether energy-efficiency features should be part of the package voters would see.
Public comment pushed the conversation from planning documents to household impact. Residents asked about taxpayer cost, possible state aid, and whether adding facilities would create staffing tradeoffs elsewhere in the budget. Speakers raised questions about modular classrooms at Burnet Hill Elementary School and about how existing rooms are being used now, pressing the board to explain why new or expanded space may be needed.
Administrators said the pace would change if voters approve a referendum. At this stage, the board is still weighing options and testing what belongs in a final proposal, but approval would trigger a more intensive design and implementation phase. That leaves the next stretch focused on turning broad concepts into a specific plan residents can judge on scope, price, and timing before any ballot question goes out.
Public Comment Period (Any Topic): Federated Church Property / Proposed Buddhist Temple vs. Township Acquisition; Handicap Parking Signage at Pool; Bamboo Encroachment and Sidewalk Violation Notice
A church property drew the longest public comment of the night. Several speakers asked the Council to reconsider a township purchase and let a Buddhist community complete a previously negotiated sale, arguing the site should remain a place of worship. One volunteer laid out a seven-point stewardship plan that included repairs, cemetery care, community space, parking lot improvements, gardens, and full financial responsibility, saying taxpayers would pay nothing.
Other speakers turned to smaller but still pointed disputes. One resident said temporary handicap parking signs at the pool remained a problem on summer weekends and asked the township to restore Zoom public comments so emailed remarks could be heard publicly. Council members said emailed comments are circulated and said the parking issue involved coordination with the Board of Education while school was in session.
A separate resident described a bamboo encroachment problem tied to nearby development and said a later sidewalk violation notice felt retaliatory. The Township Manager said a 90-day abatement notice had been issued over the bamboo and said the township would not approve retribution. The public portion then closed on a unanimous vote.
Board approves open campus lunch
Livingston High School student leaders made the case for open campus lunch, describing it as a privilege tied to safety rules and consequences for misuse. The board then voted unanimously to approve the motion, giving students the policy change they had requested.
The change affects high school students’ daily schedule, supervision, and off-campus safety expectations.
Council passes licenses and contract awards
The Council approved Resolution 26-208 through Resolution 26-217 in one consent-agenda vote. The package included 2026–2027 ABC license renewals, Chapter 159 items including Clean Communities Grant 2026 and Force Homestead Museum project entries, and contract awards to five vendors.
Approved license renewals, grant entries, and several contract authorizations affecting township operations and services.
Town previews summer events and July 4
Town officials used the meeting to promote summer concerts, August movies, community events, and the composting program waiting list. The Fourth of July Committee added details on the holiday schedule, digital car show voting, vendors, advertising trucks, fireworks, and a 250th anniversary challenge coin.
Residents get key dates, activities, and registration details for summer programs and the township’s biggest holiday event.
District updates wellness and security work
School administrators reported on wellness efforts tied to perfectionism, anxiety, technology, and social media, with programs across grade levels. They also outlined security work including updated drills, emergency communication protocols, critical infrastructure maps, panic buttons, visitor management, MOA updates, and a reunification drill with 25 volunteer families.
Reported districtwide wellness and school-security work, including drills, panic buttons, visitor management, and reunification planning.
- Livingston Township Council. During the public portion (3-minute limit), multiple speakers urged the Council to reconsider the Township’s purchase of a church property and allow a Buddhist community to acquire and steward it as a place of worship, offering a detailed seven-point stewardship plan and personal testimony of community support. Additional speakers raised concerns about handicap parking signage at the pool and a bamboo encroachment dispute tied to enforcement actions and a sidewalk notice.
- Livingston Township Board of Education. A resident questioned the referendum’s cost, expected state aid, and who pays, and raised concern about spending on infrastructure while cutting school staff. The board responded about funding sources and the PEC/state aid determination process.
- Livingston Township Board of Education. During a referendum-focused public comment period, a parent asked about Bernardet Hill plans, including removal of modular classrooms and whether the referendum’s purpose includes eliminating modulars, and requested room-by-room utilization details.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Livingston Township had 45 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves four new single-family homes with variances. The board approved four applications for new single-family houses at 31 Mount Pleasant Parkway, Barclay Terrace, 86 Martin Road, and 3 Franklin Avenue. The projects required FAR and setback relief, with conditions including an uninhabitable attic at Mount Pleasant, height compliance changes at Martin Road, and revised plans reducing size and adjusting setbacks at Franklin Avenue.
- GOVERNANCEStrategic Plan Goal 1 Update: Instructional Framework, Elementary Schedule, Grading/Reporting Work, and Professional Learning. Administration reported on instructional initiatives tied to the strategic plan, including the Livingston Lens work, an elementary schedule review with staff support, universal screening and data teams, grading/reporting handbook development with a September 2027 target, a staff repository of practices, and Adaptive Schools training.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves four home improvement variance applications. The board approved residential improvement applications for a privacy fence at 445 South Livingston Avenue, an oversized shed at 3/10 South Livingston Avenue, a second-floor addition at 41 East Cedar Street, and a revised rear addition at 106 Kimball Avenue. Several approvals included design or plan conditions, such as fence screening details and use of a revised setback exhibit.
- GOVERNANCEDistrict Equity Committee Presentation (Internal Equity Work Model, Mission/Vision, and School Initiatives). District staff presented an overview of equity work, including a shift from an external consultant model to an internal structure, the Delta equity team history, pillars of climate/culture and equity/inclusion, and examples of school initiatives shown in a video.
- GOVERNANCEDistrict Communications: Website, Parent App, and Newsletter. Administration announced a revised website, a parent app, and a newsletter with sign-up information.
- GOVERNANCEProclamation/Recognition: Livingston High School History Bowl Teams and National Academic Bee Champion. The Council recognized Livingston High School History Bowl achievements, including a junior varsity team ranked second in the nation and a varsity team ranked 14th in the nation. The Council also recognized a student who was the National Academic Bee Championship champion in the varsity division.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Goals Presentation (Facilities Referendum, Board Certification, Recognition, Superintendent Search, Bylaws/Policies). Administration presented proposed/ongoing board goals, including advancing the facilities referendum work, completing board certification training, expanding recognition of students and staff, engaging in the superintendent search transition, and continuing bylaws/policy review.
- GOVERNANCETable Discussion Item (Board Elections) Pending Attorney Input. The board agreed to table a planned discussion about board elections, with a suggestion to address it with the attorney.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Personnel Actions 2.1, 2.2, and 2.5. The board approved personnel actions numbered 2.1, 2.2, and 2.5 as a block. The vote was unanimous.
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