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Shark River Hills School Celebrates Grand Opening

SCC Funds $8.2 Million Addition, Renovations in Neptune Twp.

Neptune Twp., (June 3, 2005) - Students, parents, teachers and community leaders today joined Neptune Township School District and New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) representatives to celebrate the Grand Opening of an addition and renovations to Shark River Hills Elementary School. A dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting was followed by Open House tours of the new facility, which is part of a major district-wide expansion program.

The SCC fully funded and managed the $8.2 million project that added 9,685-square-foot of space to the existing 39,630-square-foot one-story school at 312 Brighton Avenue in Neptune Township. The addition enlarged the school to 29 classrooms to accommodate 375 students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Construction began in mid-January 2004. Last fall, students observed a construction milestone by signing a steel beam that was hoisted into place as a permanent part of Shark River Hills School.

The project included eight new instructional areas, a gym and playground. Renovations included new ceilings and lighting, new classroom ventilators and air-conditioning.

This was the school’s second expansion in three years. Health and Safety work also has been done, with upgrades to the fire alarm system, emergency lighting and exit signage.

Dennis F. Thompson, School Principal

Principal Dennis F. Thompson remarked, "Our new facilities assure us that future generations of students will make a successful transition from elementary to secondary schooling and to a more fulfilling life in our society. All this is happening because the State of New Jersey had the foresight and courage to invest in the lives of our children.”

Other SCC projects in Neptune Township include: the newly opened Neptune Early Childhood Center ($7.4 million) and Neptune High School Annex ($5.5 million); current expansion of Neptune High School ($47 million); and the ongoing construction of Neptune Community School ($31 million.) The projects are being fully funded through the SCC under New Jersey’s unprecedented $8.6 billion school construction program.

John F. Spencer, CEO of the SCC, said, “I’m pleased with the progress in Neptune. It is representative of the strides that SCC – in step with district officials and the building trades – is making toward of providing top-flight facilities for our students statewide.”


Paul Qvale, SCC Design & Construction, Jack Spencer, SCC CEO, David Mooij, Superintendent of Schools, Ian Bailey and Bob Ryan, SCC Design & Construction 
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