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Burlington City, NJ (May 29, 2007) – Representatives of the Burlington City School District and New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Wilbur Watts Intermediate School – the first new stand-alone school to be built in this Burlington County community since 1964.
Students, parents, teachers, local and state officials were on hand for the grand opening of the school, which will help to ease overcrowding and enhance academic achievement for approximately 500 students in 3rd through 6th grades. After the ceremony, officials conducted a tour of the new school, which opened to students May 7.
Superintendent Dr. Edward F. Gola Jr. stated, "The design of the building is well suited for the teaching and learning of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. There are unlimited opportunities for science education, technology, visual and performing arts, physical education, research, projects, math and literacy education. There are no excuses for attainment of teaching excellence and academic achievement. We look forward to great things from students and staff in the coming years."
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Scott Weiner, chief executive officer of SCC, stated, "The mission of the SCC is to work with communities like Burlington City to develop and deliver sorely needed modern school facilities. I am proud that our collaboration with the school board, the school district and the community has led to this day. This new intermediate school will benefit students of today and those for generations to come."
The 104,452-square-foot facility on High Street replaces an 87-year-old school. The new Wilbur Watts Intermediate School includes 23 classrooms, four special education classrooms, three science classrooms, three computer labs, a state-of-the-art media center/library, an art room, a music room, gymnasium, group and distant learning rooms and a cafeteria. A new 500-seat auditorium, funded through a local referendum, will be available to community
groups after school hours. The new building includes school board offices, a separate maintenance facility, the district’s main football field and track, basketball courts and playgrounds. The old Wilbur Watts Intermediate School, built in 1920, is scheduled to be demolished this summer to make way for a parking lot and recreational areas.
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The new school was designed by Massa Montalto Architects and built by general contractor Ernest Bock & Sons, Inc. The project was managed for the SCC by Hill International, Inc.
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