Egg Harbor City, (July 15, 2009) - Today New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) officials joined Egg Harbor City students, teachers, school district and area officials in a "beam signing" ceremony marking a key milestone in the progress of constructing the new Egg Harbor City Community School.

SDA's Vice President for Project Management Regina M. Bleck, Egg Harbor City Superintendent John Gilly III and others signed a white-painted steel beam that will be hoisted into place atop the elementary/middle school's administrative office area as a permanent part of the new addition.

The 62,000-square-foot, two-story school, which will provide 21st century educational opportunities for 364 students in 4th through 8th grades, is being built on a 10-acre district-owned site on Havana Avenue. It will include 15 general classrooms, three special-education rooms, science and technology labs, small-group instruction areas, art and music rooms, a library/media center, a cafeteria/auditorium with a kitchen, a gymnasium and a playground. The school is scheduled to open in September 2010.

"On behalf of the SDA, I would like to say it is a great pleasure to celebrate the progress in bringing a new elementary/middle school to Egg Harbor City," said SDA CEO Kris Kolluri. "Governor Jon S. Corzine signed legislation last year authorizing $3.9 billion in new school-construction funding because he is committed to bringing modern, efficient schools to New Jersey's children. This project is achieving his vision."

"Today is another exciting, momentous day in the construction process of the Egg Harbor City Community School," district Superintendent John Gilly III said. "With the foundation work almost complete, it is now time to begin to witness the steel frame of the building take form and grow skyward, changing the landscape of the Egg Harbor City community. We look forward to experiencing the continuation and completion of the project in September of 2010. I personally cannot wait to see the faces of the students and staff when they enter the new school for the first time. This beam serves as a commemorative piece of the Egg Harbor City Community School."

The general contractor for the project is Tamburro Brothers Construction Co., Inc. The Vaughan Collaborative, Inc. is the design consultant. Greyhawk is the SDA's construction management firm.

Egg Harbor City has another project under way: an addition and renovations to the Charles L. Spragg Elementary School. The expanded, modernized school is scheduled to open in September 2009 with a projected 338-student enrollment. In addition, Cedar Creek High School, the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District's third high school, is under construction and is scheduled for a September 2010 opening.

The SDA will pay two-thirds of the cost for the school projects, with the district responsible for the remainder as its local share. The projects are eligible for funding and State management because they were approved before amendments to the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000. Under the 2007 amendments, which established the SDA, such future Regular Operating District projects will be managed and funded by the local districts.

Overall the SDA has completed 604 projects in SDA Districts: 46 new schools; 41 extensive additions, renovations and/or rehabilitations; three demonstration projects and nearly 400 other projects. In addition, it has completed 19 projects in Regular Operating Districts: four new schools and 15 extensive additions, renovations and/or rehabilitations.

The school construction program is central to the state's effort to mitigate the effects of the national recession. For 2009, the SDA has accelerated projects to advance Governor Corzine's Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan to spur the economy and generate jobs. The SDA plans to begin preliminary or full construction of 27 projects in 2009, with job creation expected to accelerate in the latter half of the year as more projects break ground. Overall, the SDA will invest $1.3 billion in 27 Capital Plan projects in 2009. Over the life of these projects, the SDA expects to create or save approximately 11,000 jobs.

The Egg Harbor City Community School is expected to create or save 200 jobs over the duration of construction.