SCC, Trenton Students, Educators Break Ground
For New Martin Luther King Jr./Jefferson School

Event Marks 7th School Project Now Under Way in the City

Trenton, NJ (March 24, 2004) - Enthusiastic students joined New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) representatives and Trenton Public School District educators, city officials and community supporters at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning to launch the start of construction of the new $25.8 million Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Jefferson Elementary School that will replace two antiquated facilities.

The milestone marked SCC’s seventh recent groundbreaking for school construction in Trenton – with more projects on the horizon to benefit city students. SCC now has over $90 million in school projects under way in Trenton as part of Governor McGreevey’s visionary goal of revitalizing New Jersey’s schools and communities.

SCC is fully funding and managing the projects in the Mercer County school district under the state’s unprecedented $8.6 billion school construction program.

This latest SCC project in Trenton will consolidate the student enrollments of the King Middle School – built in 1904 – and Jefferson Elementary School – built in 1916, expanded in 1950 – into one state-of-the-art facility. The new school, providing educational opportunities for 900 pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade students, will be built on open space between the existing schools, which students will attend until the completion of construction, anticipated by early 2007. Jefferson School will then be razed. King School, because of its significant historical and architectural value, will be turned over to the City of Trenton for disposition.

Jefferson School Choir

The new 119,825-square-foot, two-story elementary school will comprise three distinct classroom wings – one for pre-K through 2nd, one for grades 3rd through 5th and one for grades 6th through 8th. Overall, the wings will encompass 37 classrooms. The project also features a cafeteria, gymnasium, science and computer labs, a TV studio, library, art and music rooms, faculty and administrative areas.

Governor McGreevey, in a statement, said, “The new school construction in Trenton represents New Jersey’s continued commitment to our children. We are living up to our most important obligation by providing 21st century facilities to ensure every child has the opportunity to get the education they deserve and the skills necessary to start school.

“The state is committed to improving school facilities for New Jersey students in a cost-effective, streamlined and efficient manner. School buildings must be designed to provide access to modern technology and a thoughtful environment which is conducive to student achievement,” Governor McGreevey added.

Tony Mack, Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Dr. James H. Lytle, Trenton School Superintendent, remarked, “We are delighted that this project will allow us to replace two of our oldest buildings with a single pre K - 8 facility designed to ensure that neighborhood students have access to the best possible educational programs. And we very much appreciate the role of the two schools' leadership councils and of the community in the planning and design of the new school.”

Dr. Lytle added, “The Schools Construction Corporation projects in Trenton are truly extraordinary. They are harbingers of the City's rapid transformation and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for Trenton's children for decades to come.”

John F. Spencer, CEO of the SCC, stated, “The new Martin Luther King Jr./Jefferson Elementary School – a 21st century learning facility – is another example of the progress being made in New Jersey ’s unprecedented school construction initiative.

“It is representative of the many quality schools that we are building in Trenton and throughout the state under the educational facilities law,” Spencer said.

Dr. Martin Luther King School Choir

Other SCC groundbreakings in Trenton since September include:

• $20.5 million construction of the new Joyce Kilmer Elementary School
• $15.7 million construction of the new Christopher Columbus Elementary School
• $11 million addition and renovations at Parker Elementary School
• $7.6 million complete renovation of the Patton J. Hill Elementary School
• $7 million addition and renovations at Mott Elementary School
• $3.9 million addition and renovations at the Gregory Elementary School

SCC also is due to break ground later this year for construction of the new Roebling School and an expansion of Trenton Central High School.

Under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, the SCC is responsible for school projects throughout the State of New Jersey. The $8.6 billion program is the largest public construction program ever undertaken by New Jersey and represents one of the largest programs of its type ever undertaken in the United States.

 

Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. / Jefferson School Rendering

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