School District Gets State Matching Funds for Capital Projects

As the South Orange-Maplewood School District continues to adjust to new realities created by state aid cuts made last year and braces for more cuts this year, there has a bit of good news on the financial front.

The district will received requested funds from the state for two capital improvement projects.

On September 8, 2010, the Christie Administration announced that the South Orange-Maplewood School District would receive a grant of more than $300,000 to convert culinary arts labs at the middle schools into technology labs. Depending on space needs, however, the district could decide to use the funds for an alternative conversion or capital project.

The $302,279 grant is coming to the school district through the Schools Development Authority's (SDA) Regular Operating District Grant Program—a program that has provided the district with about $10 million in matching grants for capital projects since 2001, according to SDA Senior Public Information Officer Larry Hanover.

In a release, the SDA stated the grant was a part of the administration's efforts for "'[f]urthering the Governor's commitment to providing the state's children with safe, modern and efficient schools."

The grants are awarded for capital improvements for which school districts provide matching funds. The state's share of the culinary lab conversion projects will be $302,279: the district's share will be $453,417. The total estimated project cost is $755,696.

Board of Education member Beth Daugherty is the facilities chair for the South Orange-Maplewood School District. Daugherty explained that the district may not necessarily convert the culinary labs into technology labs. She noted that the district is still waiting to finalize enrollment numbers for the 2010-2011—something that usually happens by mid-October. When those numbers are in, the district may need to look at creating more classroom space if there is overcrowding.

For those interested in getting in on the conversation, the Board of Education should start discussions about the application of the funds at its November meeting.

Whatever the district decides, it will not need to give back the funds as long as the grant money is allocated for capital improvement projects.