Burlington City, NJ (September 10, 2009) - New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) and Burlington City School District officials today formally opened the expanded and extensively renovated Burlington City High School. Tours of the facility, which has 800 students in 7th through 12th grades, followed a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication of a new media center to former district Superintendent Dr. Edward F. Gola Jr.

"The school construction program is building a better future for students throughout New Jersey as well as for our state's economy," Governor Jon S. Corzine said. "As more new schools and renovated facilities come to the students of New Jersey, teachers gain tools to provide the 21^st century education our students need."

The Burlington City High School project consisted of a 49,982-square-foot expansion and 149,000-square-foot renovation of the existing school. The addition, which opened to students last year, includes the media center, classrooms, art rooms, computer rooms and science rooms. Additional work entailed expansion and renovation of the existing cafeteria and kitchen, and a complete renovation of the music wing with a small expansion in the instrumental room. Renovations of the existing building were completed recently. The athletic fields were upgraded, and parking and roadways were improved.

SDA CEO Kris Kolluri said, “The SDA is proud to have worked with the district to deliver this expanded school and media center, furthering academic opportunities for the students of Burlington City. This is just one more example of Governor Corzine’s commitment to building safe, efficient, affordable schools for our children.”

Superintendent Dr. Patricia T. Doloughty stated, “Burlington City High School's renovation and addition create a 21st Century learning environment for our students. The importance of our students and their educational experience is evidenced by the commitment to the support for school facilities. Burlington City High School is a beautiful school dedicated to the education of all students.”

The school project was designed by Montalto Massa and built by Ernest Bock and Sons, Inc. Hill International, Inc. was the project management firm.

The next upcoming project in Burlington City is the new Boudinot Early Childhood Center, which is in the pre-design phase. It was approved for funding in the SDA’s 2008 Capital Plan. Completed SDA projects in Burlington City include the new Wilbur Watts Intermediate School and an addition and renovation of Samuel Smith Elementary School.

The SDA is opening 12 new or renovated schools this fall, increasing the capacity of student seats across the state to 8,974, investing $584 million to stimulate the economy and creating or saving 5,059 jobs for New Jersey.

The SDA has completed 613 projects in SDA Districts: 50 new schools; 44 extensive additions, renovations and/or rehabilitations; five demonstration projects and more than 500 other projects. In addition, it has completed 22 projects in Regular Operating Districts: five new schools and 17 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 is on track to begin preliminary or full construction of 27 Capital Plan projects in 2009. Overall, the SDA will invest $1.3 billion in these projects. Over the life of the projects, the SDA expects to create or save approximately 11,000 jobs.

The Burlington City High School project, which cost $55 million overall, generated approximately 475 jobs over the life of the project.