Hillsborough Middle School, Part 3

After Hillsborough voters twice rejected proposals to build a middle school in 1971 - a two-story school at the intersection of Amwell and Pleasantview roads, and then a one-story school at the familiar location on Triangle Road - the school board wisely set the issue aside for nearly two years.

In the meantime, school enrollment continued to increase at a rapid pace.

14 April 1973 Courier News

On April 30, 1973, a new plan was revealed. The $3.9 million proposal actually varied very little from the second rejected 1971 referendum. The 1,259 student capacity school would feature 38 regular classrooms, home economics, industrial arts, music, and art rooms, and three science labs - as well as a gym with locker rooms, a 180 seat library, and a 450 seat combination cafeteria/auditorium.

The one major difference was that while in 1971 the enrollment projections were cautionary, now they were dire. It was estimated that by the start of the 1976 school year the district would grow by 1,135 students - a 30% increase over the 3,622 currently attending.

It was noted that approval by voters would permit the district to finally close the Flagtown School, currently in use by sixth grades, and allow the Hillsborough Consolidated School (HES) to revert to an elementary school when its seventh and 8th graders moved to the middle school. Also, space would become available at the other elementary schools to provide library facilities and proper classrooms for remedial reading.

9 May 1973 Home News

For these and other reasons, the May 8, 1973, referendum gained approval by a vote of 745-580.

Celebrations lasted for about ten months. When construction bids were opened in March 1974, they came in $295,000 over budget. Rather than go out for yet another referendum, which would be the fourth for this school, the board decided to forgo the purchase of some furniture and equipment and instead include these items in future regular budgets.

26 December 1975 Home News

Construction contracts were duly awarded in March 1974, and the school was completed and ready for students in January 1976.

The Hillsborough Middle School has undergone two expansions since its opening. The first, approved in 1988, added classrooms at the front of the building. The second was a major expansion approved by voters in 1992 that added the 500-student annex on the west side of the building. The annex is unique in that it was intended as a self-contained school of its own, with a gymnasium, cafeteria, and 20 classrooms.