By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
When local school board/school budget elections are held Wednesday (April 27), a referendum on ballots will ask voters to approve spending up to $50,000 for a feasibility study of regionalization of South Hunterdon Regional High School and its three sending schools into one K-12 district of approximately 870 students.
Those voting should say yes or no.
The special question — Question No. 2 — will appear on ballots in Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell.
West Amwell school board President Robert Tomenchok recently said: “The four independent boards of education feel very strongly that our communities (West Amwell, South Hunterdon, LPS and the Stockton Borough School) should consider regionalizing into a single K-12 district. To progress beyond the sound-bite stage, we must undertake a feasibility study.
”The intent of the study is to provide an analysis of the current situation, to illustrate potential configurations for a new district, and most importantly provide the information that the boards and citizens need to make an informed decision,” he said.
The ballot question is as follows: “Be it resolved that there should be raised an additional $50,000 for general funds in the same school year (2011-12). These taxes will be used exclusively to fund a formal feasibility study to examine whether there are educational benefits to the students and/or financial savings to the taxpayers by creating a South Hunterdon Pre-K through 12th-grade all-purpose school district.
”Approval of these taxes will not result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.”
The ballot question is explained as follows: “Currently, South Hunterdon Regional School District operates as a limited-purpose school district for grades seven through 12. The constituent school districts of Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell each operate independent pre-K through grade-six elementary school districts.
”This feasibility study, which would be conducted in cooperation with the three South County elementary schools . . . would be used to help determine whether there are educational benefits for area students and/or financial savings to the taxpayers by creating a South Hunterdon Pre-K through 12th-grade all-purpose school district.”
Staff Writer Linda Seida contributed to this account.

