Trenton, NJ (September 7, 2007) – CEO Scott Weiner and other top New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) officials toured schools today in Newark and Long Branch, marking a first week of school where students entered the doors of 22 new and renovated schools statewide managed by the Authority. The openings benefit 13,500 students across New Jersey. It is the largest slate of major school projects to be opened in a single fall since the school construction program's inception.
CEO Scott Weiner was joined by Newark Superintendent Marion Bolden and Mayor Cory A. Booker on a tour of the new First Avenue School this morning. He was then accompanied by Long Branch Superintendent Joseph M. Ferraina in the afternoon for a tour of the new Long Branch High School.
This month marks the first set of school openings for the new SDA, established on August 6, 2007 when Governor Jon S. Corzine signed legislation establishing it as a replacement for the Schools Construction Corporation.
The law provides enhanced governance and accountability for the organization, which manages and fully funds projects in the 31 Abbott districts. The SDA also manages projects previously approved in districts that receive 55 percent or more of their budgets from state aid.
"Everyone at the SDA is proud to be able to deliver, for the opening of this school year, 22 projects such as we are seeing today in Newark and Long Branch," Authority CEO Scott Weiner said. "The result is safe and modern facilities for 13,500 students. Admittedly some of these projects had languished in the past. Others came down to the wire to be ready for the start of this school year. But the ability to open these 22 schools and impact the lives of 13,500 students reflects what the organization’s new management structure can accomplish when combined with effective collaboration with the districts we serve. Students in these districts deserve these 21st century facilities and the enhanced educational opportunities they will provide. But even more important is the fact that there remain hundreds of similar projects throughout the state to be addressed."
Overall, the SDA has completed 41 schools and 28 major renovations and additions, along with nearly 400 health, safety and other projects in Abbott districts. An additional 21 are under construction. SDA-managed projects, in Regular Operating (non-Abbott) Districts receiving more than 55 percent of their budgets from state aid, account for six new schools and 13 major renovations and additions.
In addition, the program has distributed $2.2 billion in grants, impacting more than 1,400 suburban schools statewide.
Attached is a complete list of the 22 SDA-managed schools opening this fall.
The First Avenue School will serve 850 students in grades pre-K-8. Recreation space was created in a courtyard area directly off the gymnasium and cafeteria. There is also dedicated recreation space for the pre-kindergarten classes. The 183,200-square-foot school includes general classrooms, a library, auditorium, computer and science labs, and a cafeteria with a kitchen.
The architectural firm for the project was Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor Engineering. Hall Construction Company Inc. was the general contractor for the project. The project management firm was PB+3DI.
"First Avenue Elementary has long been a high performing school, in spite of having approximately 1,000 students in overcrowded classes in a building built in 1928 to house 600 students,” Bolden said. “Now, at last, the students and staff at First Avenue have the wonderful building they deserve. This fantastic 21st century facility will help our students reach even higher and achieve great things. This is just the first of many great new elementary schools the Newark Public Schools and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority will be partnering on. This is a day we have long awaited. It is the beginning of great things to come."
Long Branch High School is a new 4-story building, housing approximately 1,200 students in grades 9 through 12. The 292,000-square-foot facility consists of 75 classrooms, an auditorium, media center, gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, vocal and instrumental music rooms, art rooms, science, business, computer and technology labs, and athletic fields. Additional work contained in this construction project included demolition of the old middle school, partial demolition of the existing high school, minor renovations to the previous high school building and site work associated with demolition and renovation of existing fields.
DLR Group Architecture & Engineering, PC was the design firm for the project. Gilbane Building Company was the project management firm and Hunt Construction Group, Inc, was the general contractor.
Gregory Elementary School also opened to students in Long Branch this week. Gregory was handed over to the district in July.
"I am truly happy and excited that students of Long Branch will have the ability to learn in a state-of-the-art educational facility," said Ferraina, Superintendent of Schools in Long Branch. "The vision of the Education Law Center, the Supreme Court and, of course, the Governor and all legislators, has started to level the educational playing field for all students in New Jersey.
"This project could not have been completed without the tireless work done by those in the New Jersey Schools Development Authority and the Department of Education," Ferraina added. "Students throughout the state will be able to learn in comfort using the latest technologies because of the dedication of so many hard-working people."
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