Schools

Election Results For $49M West Essex School Proposal: Voters Pick 'Yes' Or 'No'

A $49 million school construction proposal was put before voters in Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland.

This article was updated at 8:54 p.m. on Nov. 3

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Voters in four West Essex towns went to the polls on Tuesday to decide the fate of a $49.1 million school construction proposal.

The West Essex Regional Board of Education approved two ballot questions for the 2026 general election. If voters give them a green light, they would pay for a combined $49.41 million in “critical facility needs” throughout the district. An estimated $9.28 million in state aid would help to defray some of the cost.

Find out what's happening in Caldwellsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The district serves roughly 1,700 students in grades 7 to 12 from Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland.

According to the Essex County Clerk’s Office, here are the latest uncertified results with zero percent of districts fully reported (check back here for updated totals):

Find out what's happening in Caldwellsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

BOND PROPOSAL 1

  • YES – 2,020 votes, 58.05%
  • NO – 1,460 votes, 41.95%

BOND PROPOSAL 2

  • YES – 1,956 votes, 56.73%
  • NO – 1,492 votes, 43.27%

The district created a website about the referendum, which can be seen online here. A list of frequently asked questions can be seen here.

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