On February 15, 2012, Governor Chris Christie announced his recommendation of twenty new capital school construction projects in eighteen municipalities. These new school projects will be financed and administered through the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (“SDA”).
The 20 projects set to advance in 2012 were divided into three categories addressing: 1) high educational priority needs; 2) high educational priority needs that require further discussions; and 3) serious facility deficiencies.
1. Projects addressing high educational priority needs, representing a state investment of almost $675 million:
- Gloucester City – Gloucester City Middle School
- Keansburg – Caruso Elementary School
- New Brunswick – Paul Robeson Community Elementary School
- Newark – Elliot Street Elementary School
- Newark – South Street Elementary School
- Passaic – Dayton Avenue Elementary School Campus
- Phillipsburg – Phillipsburg High School
- West New York – Memorial High School
2. Projects addressing high educational priority needs that require further discussions with the District:
- Elizabeth – Elementary School grade level
- Garfield – Elementary School grade level
- Harrison – Middle School grade level
- Millville – High School grade level
- Paterson – Elementary School grade level
- Perth Amboy – All grade levels
- Union City – Elementary School grade level
3. Projects that address serious facility deficiencies:
- Camden – Camden High School
- Hoboken – Thomas G. Connors Elementary School
- Orange – Cleveland Elementary School
- Orange – Orange High School
- Trenton – Trenton Central High School
According to the Governor, the 2012 Project Portfolio represents the Christie Administration’s ongoing commitment to responsibly advance SDA projects in the most efficient manner, in a shift away from design excess, costly change orders and mismanagement. This year’s class of projects was evaluated using the same factors established in 2011, including project standardization, total project completion costs, cost per student, and the project’s interrelationship with the district’s overall plan. The SDA also examined projects that could impact the greatest number of students.