Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional quotes and details from Hillsdale officials and stakeholders.
HILLSDALE—A majority of voters here approved a $62.4 million referendum to fully renovate George G. White Middle School, according to unofficial election results from the Sept. 17 vote.
Approximately 61% of registered voters who cast ballots supported both questions in the referendum, which sets in motion a full renovation of the century-old middle school and the addition of six classrooms. Nearly 30% of Hillsdale’s 8,631 registered voters participated, either in person on Election Day or by mail-in ballot.
School Board President Justin Saxon called the referendum’s passage “a great day for the Hillsdale school district” and expressed gratitude to the community for turning out to vote. He said one key difference in this referendum compared to the defeated 2023 referendum was that “the district was able to get the word out to the community” through in-person and virtual forums, short videos on aspects of the referendum, and making themselves accessible at community events.
Trustee Salvatore Sileo told us, “I have two words to describe how I feel about the passing of the George W. White referendum: excited and grateful. I am excited for the teachers and future students of George White. Upon completion, these individuals will have an opportunity to teach and learn in a conducive learning atmosphere—an environment that is more appropriate for 21st century learning.”
Sileo thanked residents who participated in forums to revise the referendum question, board members, and especially Superintendent Robert Lombardy and the business administrator “for their vision to improve the educational experience” for students in Hillsdale.
Lombardy shared his excitement after the vote. “The board and this plan always put the kids first, and that was ingrained in our messaging. The voters of Hillsdale saw that this renovation was for the kids and for the future,” he said. Lombardy noted that a renovated middle school will boost property values and make Hillsdale more attractive to future homebuyers.
Lombardy added that the next steps include meeting with bond counsel, architects, and engineers to develop construction documents once county officials certify the vote in early October. Work on the project is expected to begin in summer 2025 and conclude by fall 2027. The plan includes using modular classrooms to accommodate students during the renovation.
The referendum’s approval follows the defeat of a more ambitious $82.7 million proposal in 2023, which aimed to replace George G. White Middle School. That vote saw 2,001 residents voting against the plan, with 1,180 in favor.
This time, voters approved Question 1, which covers fully renovating the middle school, with 1,528 votes in favor and 966 opposed. Question 2, which will add a two-story addition with six classrooms, passed with 1,403 votes in favor and 914 opposed. Mail-in ballots for Question 1 showed 293 votes in favor and 200 opposed, while Question 2’s mail-in votes recorded 245 in favor and 173 opposed. Elections officials will update the results as late-arriving mail-in ballots and provisional ballots are processed.
Mayor Michael Sheinfield, who advocated for the referendum, expressed relief after the vote. “I was more fearful of what we were going to do if the answer was no. I’m so relieved that that question is no longer relevant. There was no good solution,” Sheinfield told Pascack Press. He noted that while fewer voters participated in this year’s referendum compared to last year, there was “not a lot of heat on this” ballot question compared to the 2023 proposal. He credited the school board’s outreach efforts, including public meetings and both virtual and in-person engagement, for helping inform residents about the referendum.
In a letter to Pascack Press published Sept. 16, Sheinfield urged residents to support the referendum, highlighting the choice between a renovated middle school or one that continues to deteriorate. “Are our homes more valuable in a town with a renovated middle school, or with a neglected one?” he asked. Sheinfield noted that although his own children were past middle school age, the decision would still impact the value of his home and many others in the community.
The district actively communicated with residents in the lead-up to the vote, using both in-person and virtual forums and posting videos on the referendum website. With help from communications consultant Laura Bishop Communications, the district produced nearly a dozen videos detailing the referendum’s impact, which were shared online.
Lombardy expressed his gratitude to the community late on Sept. 17, saying, “This vote will prove to be pivotal for Hillsdale. The modernization of George G. White Middle School will benefit students and the community. We can’t wait to get started on the expansive renovations that ultimately will meet educational needs and preserve the operating budget.”
He added, “Additionally, the approval of the second question on the ballot means we can add classroom space that is needed now and will be even more necessary in the future. It means we can meet the needs of enrollment and educational programs.”
Saxon highlighted how the district’s communication efforts contributed to the referendum’s success, ensuring that voters were well-informed and engaged throughout the process.