Referendum Question Authorized

Following several months of study and a summer of community sessions, on August 20, the School District of Hartford Joint #1 Board of Education authorized a referendum question for the November 5, 2024 ballot. See the full press release here.

The School District of Hartford Joint #1 Board of Education is asking community members to vote on this referendum question on the upcoming November 5th ballot. Read the HJT1 Referendum Fact Sheet for more information!

Facilities Referendum:

This referendum question proposes to:

• Address District-wide capital maintenance needs at Lincoln Elementary, Rossman Elementary, and Central Middle School to impact every PreK-8 student.
• Renovate selected spaces at Lincoln Elementary to better accommodate Special Education, Art, Music, Physical Education, Boys & Girls Club, and to accommodate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) needs.
• Make updates to accommodate ADA needs at Central Middle School and Rossman Elementary School.
• Improve site drainage at multiple buildings.
• Remodel building infrastructure and systems improvements

The referendum is designed to have no additional annual tax impact on residents.

Why the Referendum?

All three school buildings have Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns that need to be addressed.

All three school buildings are in need of generators in order to operate in cases of power outages. The district’s facilities also serve as Red Cross emergency sites for the community which necessitate these updates/additions.

The outdated architecture and construction of the exterior walls at Lincoln have surpassed the capability for preventive and routine maintenance and require rebuilding.

Modernization is included to provide up-to-date learning environments/spaces for students as well as provide a more convenient designated location for Boys & Girls Club.

How to Learn More:

Upcoming Events

Community-wide Referendum Information Nights will be held:

• Monday, September 30th
• Wednesday, October 9th
• Thursday, October 24th
• Thursday, October 31st

(Dates may be subject to change)

All meetings will be held at 6pm at District Office located at 402 W. Sumner St. Learn the facts, see the facilities, understand the referendum needs, and get your questions answered.

We will also be present at:

• Open House at each building from 4pm - 7pm:
  
  • Wednesday, August 21st @ Central Middle School
  • Thursday, August 22nd @ Lincoln & Rossman Elementary Schools

• Parent Nights at each building from 4pm - 7pm:
  
  • Monday, September 16th @ Central Middle School
  • Wednesday, September 18th @ Lincoln Elementary School
  • Thursday, September 19th @ Rossman Elementary School
• Harvest Fest in Hartford on October 12th to provide information and answer questions.

Schedule a Tour

The best way to make an informed decision is to see the buildings. Schedule a tour with District staff by emailing referendum[at]hjt1[dot]org

We’ll Come to You!

Set up a small group meeting with your friends and neighbors with Tara Villalobos (District Administrator) and Adam Majerus (Director of Business Services) to get your direct questions answered. Email referendum[at]hjt1[dot]org to schedule a date and time.

Even More Details

Please see additional webpages for more detailed information: Overview, Planning & Outlook, and Frequently Asked Questions.