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SCC, Long Branch Educators Break Ground
For $24 Million Gregory Elementary School
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Major Milestone Marks the Start of Construction
Of 4th New School in Monmouth County City
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Long Branch, NJ (July 18, 2005) - New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) representatives today joined Long Branch Public School District educators, students, officials and residents at a groundbreaking for the New Gregory Elementary School. The ceremony was a major milestone, since it marked the start of construction of the 4th new state-of-the-art school to be built by the SCC in the Monmouth County city.
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The new school at 201 Monmouth Avenue will accommodate 550 students in pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. The three-story, 94,000-square-foot school will include 36 classrooms, a media center, auditorium-cafeteria, a community health center, computer lab, science room and music room. The SCC is fully funding and managing the $24 million school project, which is scheduled for completion in 2007, through the state's $8.6 billion school construction program.
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"These are historic times in Long Branch. Never again will the city see this many schools being built at one time," said Joseph M. Ferraina, Superintendent of Schools.
"Having state-of-the-art schools built for future generations is something that we have concentrated on," Ferraina said, adding that the Gregory School will be "virtually identical" to the New Amerigo A. Anastasia School that recently opened on Seventh Avenue. Construction also is under way on the new Long Branch High School and Middle School.
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Ferraina noted that land for the Gregory Elementary School was secured by the City of Long Branch in conjunction with its lower Broadway redevelopment plan. "Placing a school in that location will be an anchor for the redevelopment efforts of that area," Ferraina said.
"This project is one of those initiatives that we at the SCC believe will be seen as one of the State's best for many years to come. I am really impressed by what has been envisioned for the students and community of the City of Long Branch," said Kellie Drakeford, director the SCC's Division of Diversity, Small Business, Government and Community Affairs.
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The new school - which will replace the original Gregory Elementary School built in 1924 - was designed by architects Tomaino Tomaino Iamello & Associates, P.A. and is being built by Henderson Corporation; Greyhawk, North America is the project management firm.
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