SCC, Local Officials Update Residents On Vineland School Construction Projects

Vineland, NJ (July 20, 2004) – Vineland residents attended a Community Forum last night jointly sponsored by the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) and the City of Vineland. The Forum – one in a series of such community gatherings planned by the SCC around the state – allowed residents and parents to hear about progress on school construction and renovation projects in Vineland.

“Governor McGreevey has made it clear his vision is to ensure New Jersey's children are given a 21 st Century education,” said John F. Spencer, SCC CEO. “One way to improve the quality of education our children receive is to make sure they're being taught in an environment conducive to learning. That's why New Jersey has embarked on the largest school construction and renovation program in state history.”

The forum at Vineland High School North featured a discussion on various SCC projects in the city that will total more than $100 million when completed. In addition to SCC staff, Vineland Councilwoman Barbara Sheftall, on behalf of Mayor Perry Barse, and Superintendent of Schools Clarence Hoover participated in the forum. To date, over $23 million in SCC funding already has been committed to projects in the city.

“With only one-quarter of the funding committed thus far, Vineland will be seeing a lot more improvement to its schools in the coming years,” Mayor Barse said. “We wanted to make sure we joined the SCC in keeping residents fully informed of school construction and renovation status, presently and moving forward.”

“We've worked closely with the SCC and the community to make sure the needs of our students are being met through these school construction projects,” said Superintendent Hoover. “We are excited about the school construction and renovation projects planned for the district.”

Governor McGreevey initiated the SCC in July 2002 to streamline the building of much-needed quality schools statewide, saying at that time, “These projects represent New Jersey's continued commitment to our children. Working together, we are living up to our most important obligation by providing 21st century schools to ensure every child has the opportunity to get the education they deserve and skills necessary to succeed.”

Using the design-build approach where the construction and design process overlap, the design time can be halved and construction accelerated up to 75 percent using pre-purchased materials. This means the entire process could be completed in 22 months – since the foundation, enclosure and other construction can be done, and be ready for finishing, while the design still is in progress.

The SCC is responsible for school projects throughout the New Jersey. The $8.6 billion program is the largest public construction program ever undertaken by New Jersey and represents one of the largest programs of its type ever undertaken in the nation

Top of Page