Printable Version

Recent Graduates Help Install New Technology at the New Trenton Central High School

July 12, 2019 – Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) announced today that 20 Trenton Central High School (TCHS) graduates are helping to install technology equipment at the new school.

The students, who graduated in June 2019, are serving as interns to Washington Computers, which is responsible for providing and integrating the computers and other technology throughout the 374,000 square-foot High School.

"The new Trenton Central High School is an important project for the SDA and New Jersey’s capital city and we are happy that the vendor is giving back to the community by involving these students in the construction of their school,” said Manuel Da Silva, SDA Interim Chief Executive Officer. “While these students have already graduated and will not have the opportunity to attend the new school, their participation in this final stage of construction will benefit thousands of students for years to come."

Throughout their engagement, the student interns will: unbox nearly 1,900 Chromebooks; tag, inventory and image the computers; wire laptop security carts; and install computers in classrooms/labs. The interns will also assist in activating every computer that will be in the new TCHS.

"This exemplifies the kind of professional learning experiences that can continue even after high school graduation," said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. "The Trenton Central High School graduates obtain valuable work experience, they share their enthusiasm and energy with the contractors working on the project and they have the opportunity to give something back to their alma mater."

The new Trenton Central High School is designed to educate a maximum capacity of approximately 2,180 students in 10th to 12th grade. The school will include five Small Learning Communities (SLC) and provide Career Technical Education programs related to Health Sciences, Culinary Arts, Construction, Physical Fitness, and Automotive Technology. Each SLC will consist of 10 classrooms, two science labs, one art/project lab, five specialized instructional areas, a learning resource center and support areas. In addition, the school will include a gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, swimming pool, dance studio, fitness center, weight room, cafeteria, media center, auditorium, and two ROTC classrooms.

"It is exciting that our recent high school graduates will have a lasting impact on the completion of the new high school," said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. "Not only will they put their technical education to use, but they will be able to further their own careers in innovation."

"I felt that if the school was built for the community and for the students, that they should have a part in rolling out the technology piece to it," said Rob Moore, a consultant for Washington Computers. "We wanted to enlist the help of students who were attending the school here, so that by the time that they leave school, they will be familiar with at least some of the technology that is going into the school. I thought that was important for them."

The school was built using a design-build approach. This method differs from the traditional approach in that SDA contracts with one firm for both the design and construction of a school facility project. Terminal Construction Corp. is the design-build contractor, working in partnership with Design Ideas Group Architecture + Planning, LLC on the design. The project is being managed by CBRE Heery, Inc. The school is on schedule to open to students this September. The total estimated SDA project cost for the new school is $155.4 million.

To date, the SDA has invested more than $369 million in active and completed projects in Trenton alone including seven capital projects (Columbus E.S., Joyce Kilmer E.S., MLK/Jefferson E.S., Gregory E.S., Mott E.S., PJ Hill E.S., and Parker E.S.) and one demonstration project (Daylight/Twilight Alternative High School).

About the New Jersey Schools Development Authority

The SDA is the State agency responsible for fully funding and managing the new construction, modernization and renovation of school facilities projects in 31 SDA Districts. Its current portfolio of active projects is valued at approximately $2 billion – including the Capital Project portfolio, emergent projects and Regular Operating District grants. Since the program’s inception, the SDA has provided funding for and management oversight of more than 850 completed school facilities projects in SDA Districts and has executed more than 5,400 grants for Regular Operating Districts throughout the State of New Jersey. For more information about the SDA, please visit our website at: www.njsda.gov or follow us on social media at: Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; or Twitter.