TRENTON – The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) has awarded a $26,800,000 construction contract to Dobco, Inc. for Passaic’s new Elementary School at Henry Street. This new 21st century school will provide educational opportunities for 688 students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade and create/save over 390 jobs over the life of the project.

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 Jon S. Corzine’s Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan to spur the economy and generate jobs. Capital Plan projects worth $1.4 billion are being advanced into preliminary or full-scale construction in SDA Districts in 2009.

Under the Corzine administration, the SDA has completed 144 major construction projects overall: 127 in SDA Districts and an additional 17 in Regular Operating Districts (RODs). All told, the SDA has invested $5.293 billion in projects since January 2006, generating an estimated 45,800 jobs and impacting more than 45,000 students.

The new 116,934-square-foot facility will include a three-story wing consisting of 34 general classrooms as well as rooms for music, art, and administrative offices. A 10,000-square-foot secured playground area will be provided. The building also will include a two-story community wing with a media center/library, gymnasium and cafeteria/auditorium for student use during the school day and accessible to the public after-school hours. The new school is scheduled to open in 2011.

RMJM Hillier is the design firm for the Elementary School at Henry Street project. Skanska, USA Building, Inc. is managing the project for the SDA.

The bid by Dobco, Inc., a Small Business Enterprise, was $9,374,000 below the construction cost estimate of $36,174,000. A notice of award was made to the Hawthorne, N.J., company on September 29 and announced at the SDA’s October board meeting.

The Henry Street project drew 11 bids. The award continues a recent trend in which the SDA has seen significant savings as greater competition has translated into lower bids.

This is the latest SDA project in Passaic. The new Main Avenue Elementary School is under construction and expected to open in 2010. Additions and extensive renovations were completed in 2005 at three Passaic schools: Mario Drago School No.3, Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 6 and Grant Elementary School No. 7.