State Will Pay To Replace 2 Schools In Newark, Officials Say

NEWARK, NJ — Funds are on the way for two new schools in Newark, the New Jersey School Development Authority (SDA) announced last week.

The SDA said it has approved an additional 16 project in its 2022 capital plan, which will “address critical facility needs,” including overcrowding – an issue that has long been a source of controversy in New Jersey’s largest city.

The list of projects includes replacing two new pre-K to Grade 8 schools in Newark. The agency didn’t release more specific information about which schools will be replaced in the Brick City as part of its news release, but offered the following list of projects:

PROJECTS TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING

PROJECTS TO ADDRESS SERIOUS FACILITIES DEFICIENCIES THROUGH REPLACEMENT FACILITIES

According to a statement from the SDA:

“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 at last week’s SDA board of directors meeting, will become part of the SDA program portfolio following expiration of the gubernatorial veto period on Sept. 22.

The 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 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.”

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