Trenton, NJ
(February 1, 2003) - Burlington City celebrates the opening today
of a new early childhood learning center as an addition to the Samuel
Smith Elementary School. Burlington City received $3.7 million dollars
from the State of New Jersey to build the Center and it is the first
Abbott early childhood learning center to open that was fully funded
as part of the New Jersey School Construction program.
The funding is
part of an $8.6 billion School Construction program that will help
to revitalize the community, bringing jobs and targeted growth to
the area, and will provide educational opportunities for approximately
180 three and four year old pre-kindergarten children.
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Assemblyman
Conners, Mayor Costello,
Assemblyman Conaway
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"This Early Childhood
Learning Center represents New Jersey's commitment to our children.
We are living up to our most important obligation by providing 21st
Century facilities to ensure that every child has the opportunity
to get the education they deserve and the skills necessary to start
school," said Governor McGreevey.
"The State is
committed to improving school facilities for New Jersey students in
a cost-effective, streamlined and efficient manner. School buildings
must be designed to provide access to modern technology and a thoughtful
environment which is conducive to student achievement."
The project involved
the construction of a 15,444-square-foot addition to the existing
Samuel Smith Elementary School. The 12 new modular classrooms were
built in a factory and came finished complete with bathrooms, sinks
and built-in storage cabinets. Each of the modular classrooms will
have a large area for instruction and a separate area for play. The
Center will help the district meet the mandatory requirements to provide
full-day pre-school for three and four year olds.
"The community,
teachers and students are very excited about the new early childhood
learning center," said Superintendent Dr. Edward Gola. The center
allows the District to centralize our services for our three and four
year olds. The new center is a very special place that provides our
District the opportunity to provide age appropriate activity in a
wonderful and vibrant environment."
"This project
is an example of the progress made in the implementation of the historic
school construction initiative," said Alfred McNeill, CEO New Jersey
School Construction Corporation. "This new early childhood center
is one of the first of hundreds of school that will be built under
the educational facilities law."
Under the Educational
Facilities and Construction Act, the New Jersey School Construction
Corporation is responsible for school projects throughout the State.
The program is the largest public construction program ever undertaken
by the State of New Jersey and represents one of the largest school
construction programs ever undertaken in the nation.
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