Mrs. Joan Maldony, Principal, Mr.Austin
Gumbs, Board President, Mr. John M. Rodecker, Superintendent,
Jerry
Murphy, Managing Director, Policy & Communications SCC, Joseph
Vas, Mayor, Mrs. Nelly Cruz,
Wife, Mrs. Ivonne Cruz, Daughter, Ignacio Cruz Jr., Son, Kenneth Cruz,
Son, Christopher Vas,
Grandson, Millie Cruz, Daughter
Perth Amboy Honors Ignacio Cruz
Ceremony
dedicating new early childhood center in his memory
Perth Amboy, NJ
(September 9, 2003) - The Cruz family along with local, state and school
officials attended a ceremony today on the site of the new Ignacio Cruz
Early Childhood Center to honor the memory of Ignacio Cruz. Mr. Cruz was
the first Hispanic to sit on the Perth Amboy Board of Education.
A native of Puerto Rico and Korean War veteran, Mr. Cruz devoted over forty years of his life to the city of Perth Amboy through his various community activities.
The new Ignacio Cruz Early Childhood Center will involve the construction of a 67,00 square foot facility on 4.5 acres. The one store facility is designed to serve approximately 550 children. The center will include 38 pre-kindergarten classrooms, a speech room, health suite and a multi-purpose room.
The funding for
the center 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.
Under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, SCC 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 programs of its type ever undertaken in the nation.
