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SCC, Elizabeth Educators Break Ground
On 3rd New Elementary School This Week
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State’s $94 Million Funding of the Projects Provides Property Tax Relief
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| Elizabeth, NJ (July 2004) – New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) broke
ground on Elizabeth School #29 on July 29, 2004 – the second anniversary of Governor James E. McGreevey's Executive Order establishing the SCC – one day after breaking ground July 28th on Elizabeth School #30 and Elizabeth School #31. |
The groundbreaking events heralded the start of approximately $94 million in construction work on the three new elementary schools, which will provide 21st century educational opportunities for more than 2,200 students, as well as property tax relief for residents
The state-of-the-art school projects are being fully funded and managed by the SCC, which was initiated by Governor McGreevey on July 29, 2002 to implement New Jersey’s unprecedented $8.6 billion school construction program. SCC has hundreds of projects under way and is making tremendous progress in fulfilling the visionary goal of Governor McGreevey to streamline the building of much-needed quality schools statewide.
SCC representatives joined Elizabeth School District officials, students, teachers and residents at a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of School #29 today.
John F. Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of SCC, remarked, "Under Governor McGreevey’s leadership, we are working harder than ever to ensure that every child can learn in a safe, healthy and high-quality environment. These projects in Elizabeth will benefit students, teachers and the community, and are indicative of the positive impact that SCC is having in school districts throughout New Jersey.”
In addition to building 21st Century schools for 21st Century leaders, the program is also helping to achieve another of the Governor’s goals – property tax relief and reform. The Governor’s FY 2005 budget dedicates a record level and record increase in direct property tax relief programs, mostly through the new FAIR plan – funded by a “millionaire’s” tax that will provide more than 2 million working families and seniors with increased property tax relief.
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On behalf of Governor McGreevey, Jack Spencer, SCC CEO presented to Patricia Perkins, Elizabeth Councilwoman, School Superintendent Thomas G. Dunn and Felice Vasquez, Mayor’s Office, a proclamation designating July 29th as School #29 Day in NJ |
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Seema M. Singh, NJ Ratepayer Advocate,School Superintendent Thomas G. Dunn, Jr., Donald Moore, SCC Managing Director
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“SCC is a major part of Governor McGreevey’s statewide property tax plan – investing in our neighborhood schools while lowering the property tax burden for communities,” said Spencer. “Every state dollar spent on school construction projects is one less dollar that has to come from local taxpayers.”
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held yesterday, July 28, for Elizabeth School #30 and Elizabeth School #31. Seema M. Singh, New Jersey’s Ratepayer Advocate and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, represented Governor McGreevey at those events.
“While I am honored be here on behalf of Governor McGreevey, it is the students – the children of this city – who are the real guests of honor because they are this city’s future and our state’s hope,” Ms. Singh stated.
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| The three new construction projects
include: |
| · | Elizabeth School #29, a $31.6
million project, a 118,452-square-foot facility on a
2-acre parcel on North Broad Street; |
| · | Elizabeth School #30, $28.3 million
project, a 119,660-square-foot located on a 3-acre
parcel at 1200 North Avenue; |
| · | Elizabeth School #31, a $34 million
project, a 121,000-square-foot facility on a 5.5-acre
parcel at 1000 South Elmora Avenue; |
| · | Each of these three new schools will
accommodate 750 students in pre-Kindergarten through 8th
grades. Each facility will include general classrooms
and small-group instruction rooms, a media center, art
and music rooms, science labs, computer labs, a
cafetorium with stage, a practice kitchen, a main and
auxiliary gym, playgrounds and parking. The schools are
scheduled for completion in early
2006. |
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School Superintendent Thomas G. Dunn, Jr. stated, "This is an important time in the history of the Elizabeth school district. Under the SCC initiative, 17 additional schools are planned for construction to properly meet the academic needs of the children of Elizabeth. Each of these new state-of-the-art facilities has been carefully designed to provide student-friendly environments that will enrich the learning process and inspire our talented youngsters to reach even greater levels of achievements. This is just another way we will continue to inspire our children and promote success in the classroom.”
In the two years since it was created, SCC has completed health and safety projects at 344 schools, and over 600 design and construction contracts have been awarded for renovation or new construction at more than 500 schools throughout the state. It is the largest public construction program ever undertaken by the State of New Jersey, and one of the largest programs of its type ever undertaken in the nation.
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Elizabeth School #30 |
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Elizabeth School #31 |
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Elizabeth School #29 |
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