Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey School Development Authority (SDA) today announced the approval of an additional 16 project to its 2022 Capital Plan that will address critical facility needs in some of the state’s neediest districts. The projects, approved at yesterday’s SDA Board of Directors Meeting, will become part of the SDA program portfolio following expiration of the gubernatorial veto period on September 22, 2022.

“It is our job to ensure New Jersey’s young scholars have equitable access to outstanding school buildings that will allow them to learn, thrive and succeed as they embark on a lifetime of learning,” said SDA CEO Manuel Da Silva. “The Administration’s investment toward the improvement of New Jersey’s educational infrastructure has allowed this Board to advance projects that will address critical needs in districts throughout New Jersey.”

“The Board’s approval of these projects, identified in the SDA’s Statewide Strategic Plan as priority projects, will significantly reduce District-wide overcrowding and facility deficiencies that impact thousands of students statewide,” said SDA Chairman, Robert Nixon. “These projects will deliver thousands of new or replacement student seats in state-of-the-art facilities that will foster learning and student achievement.”

The advancement of 16 additional capital projects is possible due to the funding appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget by Governor Murphy and the State Legislature. As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget agreement, the State allocated $1.55 billion to support the SDA’s 2022 Strategic Plan to advance more than a dozen school construction projects in SDA districts, and an additional $350 million for facilities projects in regular operating districts. These funds will be appropriated through the Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund.

The projects approved today will significantly address overcrowding experienced district-wide and serious facility deficiencies that exist in 13 districts statewide. The projects include:

These new projects join three more that were approved by the SDA Board of Directors in April for a total of 19 projects approved in 2022.

The projects announced today were selected for advancement using the same methodology and factors established in 2011, including high educational need, facilities needs and efficient construction factors. The SDA and New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) met with the 31 SDA Districts in working group meetings to identify and review (or “examine”) their highest priority needs. In addition, the SDA and NJDOE evaluated more recent enrollment data with the NJDOE 2019 Educational Facilities Needs Assessment (EFNA) to ensure the utilization of the most relevant up-to-date information.

For more information on the 2022 Statewide Strategic Plan Update, please visit: 2022 Statewide Strategic Plan

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 $1 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 880 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.