2 Collingswood schools to stay open after bond referendum didn't pass

Two of the oldest elementary schools in Collingswood, New Jersey, will remain open after voters rejected a bond referendum on Tuesday night.

A spokesperson for the Haddon Township School District said that 2,577 voters opposed the referendum to close Thomas Sharp and James Garfield Elementary . According to the district, 1,107 voters supported the referendum.

The school district said the results are based on mail-in ballots and in-person voting. Votes from provisional ballots and the remaining mail-in ballots will continue to be counted, but the additional votes aren't expected to change the outcome, the Haddon Township School District said.

"While the bond proposal may not have passed, we will continue to push forward, ensuring every student in our district has the resources and support they need to thrive. The Collingswood School District appreciates the active engagement of our community, as it proves that progress is a shared priority. We are going to take some time to reflect on this outcome while keeping the community engaged in the ongoing dialogue regarding our schools and next steps for the future," Dr. Fred McDowell, the superintendent of Collingswood Public School District, said in a release.

Before the vote, Dorian Adams helped organize the Protect Colls Schools movement, a group of citizens fighting against the referendum. She said it divests from the most diverse and economically disadvantaged schools in the district. Adams also argued having students travel farther to and from school will be more challenging for families in West Collingswood.

"A lot of our families are walking families, a lot of our families are low-income and can't afford cars or have two working parents and can't necessarily transport a child with one car," Adams said.

The $44.5 million referendum announced publicly in March has caused contention in the borough with opposing views and opposing yard signs popping up in the community.

The plan would've moved the more than 300 students from Thomas Sharp and James Garfield Elementary into other schools in the district, and the former Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School would be renovated and become an upper elementary school for fourth and fifth graders.

McDowell said the referendum would've helped reduce overcrowding in the district and add needed outdoor recreational facilities. He believes bringing students together from all walks of life sooner is a benefit and said all schools in the borough are walkable.

"I'm proud of the work we have done in this community to advocate for improved school facilities and to bring attention to the real systemic inequities that exist within our five separate elementary schools. While we did not receive an affirmative vote, our work to address those inequities does not stop. We will continue to advocate for and make decisions that benefit ALL students in our schools," Collingswood Board of Education President Regan Kaiden said in a statement.