500 Green Grove Students Take Part in ‘Beam Signing’

State-Funded, Managed $10 Million Expansion Project Nearing Completion at Neptune Township Elementary School

During the school day, students in Kindergarten through 5th grade signed a steel beam that will become a permanent part of the new 21,700-square-foot addition to the school.

The project, scheduled for completion by March 2005, also includes renovations to an existing 36,000-square-foot area of the school on Green Grove Road. The addition includes classrooms, cafetorium and gym; renovations include new ceilings, lighting and air-conditioning throughout.

The $10 million project is being fully funded and managed by SCC, which was created two years ago to implement New Jersey’s unprecedented $8.6 billion school construction program.

School district Business Administrator David Mooij noted the beam-signing idea came from the SCC, and he indicated the practice gives the students a sense of ownership in the school.

“Apparently it’s been done in a few other districts. It allows kids to buy into the project and leave their mark. I guess it’s the modern version of carving your initials into the beams,” he said.

John F. Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of the SCC, remarked, “I’m pleased with the way the school construction is progressing in Neptune Township. The work is representative of the strides that SCC – in step with district officials and the building trades – is making toward realizing our goal of providing top-flight facilities for our students throughout New Jersey.”

Other projects in Neptune Township’s long-range facilities plan being fully funded and managed by SCC include: the recently opened Neptune Early Childhood Center ($7.4 million) and Neptune High School Annex ($5.5 million); the current expansion of Neptune High School ($47 million) and Shark River Hills Elementary School ($8.2 million); and the ongoing construction of Neptune Community School ($31 million) and Summerfield Elementary School ($22 million).