A listing of private schools in the area. A listing of special education services in the area. If a district wants to compete, it's competing against other schools with these facilities and amenities. Those needs include better high-tech equipment so students can compete in the Internet era, said Mike Yaple, spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association. Some districts need new facilities to meet more rigorous state standards, such as foreign language instruction in elementary schools, he added.
Voters apparently realize the needs and have opened their wallets.
The robust economy over the past few years has helped, experts say. In Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties during 1999, voters approved all 16 school bond referendums. So far this year, four districts have had improvement plans approved, while only one, Deptford, has failed to get its project passed. Additions and renovations are planned at two schools, including new classrooms and multipurpose rooms, and renovations are planned for a third school. Copyright 2000 Courier-Post.