“The beginning of a new year is a time to look back on your progress and ahead to new possibilities,” Spencer said. “Last year, thousands of New Jersey schoolchildren began the school year in new, state-of-the-art learning environments built by the SCC and our partners throughout the state. And we’re just getting started. New Jersey’s children and the SCC are in for another great year in 2005.”

Building on its progress, the SCC expects to complete just over 100 new schools and major addition/renovation projects this year, which will provide 21st century learning environments for tens of thousands of schoolchildren in school districts across the state. Included in those projects are:

• 14 brand new schools in urban areas;
• 18 major additions/renovations to schools in urban areas;
• 20 brand new schools in suburban areas;
• 60 major additions/renovations to schools in suburban areas

Many of the new schools are expected to open in time for the 2005-06 school year. One will be the new elementary school in Cumberland County’s Fairfield Township. This new 75,000-square-foot pre-kindergarten-8th grade school will educate 600 students. It will have 31 classrooms, a science lab, media center and a cafetorium.

Another new school project, in Jersey City, will be an educational facility for both elementary and middle school students. The scarcity of land available in urban areas has been a critical issue, and this project provides a unique solution to this problem. Both Middle School #4 and Elementary School #3 are currently under construction on a shared site. The combined school, which will serve nearly 1,300 students, will include 44 classrooms, an auditorium wing, a gymnasium/cafeteria wing and an educational/administrative wing.

Spencer also noted that the SCC’s efforts would not be limited to construction achievements. “Over the course of 2005, we expect to see expansion of our programs for small, women- and minority-owned businesses participating in our program. These include contractor training programs, a mentor-protégé program, surety bonding and working capital assistance programs, designed to help small businesses get the financial backing they need to compete for larger school construction projects, and an aggressive “carve-out” program to provide contracting opportunities solely for small businesses.”

The SCC anticipates that 2005 will be its busiest year to date. Some anticipated milestones include:

More than 140 new school projects to begin --In addition to opening new schools, the SCC expects to begin design on just over 60 school construction projects and construction on more than 80 school projects in 2005.

School-Based Community Initiatives Break Ground--The SCC expects that six school-based community initiatives, called “Demonstration Projects” will break ground in 2005. Partnering with local communities, the SCC is helping lead unique school construction and community revitalization projects in Union City, Trenton, Vineland, New Brunswick, Camden and East Orange.

SCC Supports Suburban School Construction Projects -- Over the course of 2005, the SCC anticipates that a minimum of 20 new schools will open for students in suburban areas where the SCC provides financial support, but does not manage school construction efforts. Additionally, nearly 60 more addition and renovation/expansion projects will be accomplished in suburban districts. All in all, the SCC estimates that $380M will be disbursed through these grants for 2005, assisting construction endeavors across New Jersey.

“The SCC has achieved a great deal of what we want to accomplish, but we know there is still much, much more work to be done and significant challenges to meet,” Spencer said. “One of those challenges is meeting Governor Codey’s goal of safer and more secure schools throughout the state. In the months ahead, the SCC will work even harder to provide the highest quality and safest possible learning environments for our children.”

As it begins its third year of operations, the SCC has committed support to more than 2,700 school construction projects at nearly 1,800 schools, completed $660 million in health and safety projects at more than 350 urban schools. The SCC is also building early childhood education centers, launching school-based community revitalization efforts, and strengthening the economy through the creation of employment and business opportunities.

List of SCC managed and non-managed new schools and major addition/renovation projects slated to open in 2005

CEO Presentation