Gov. Christie's N.J. schools construction plan unlikely to conclude during his term in office

TRENTON — Thirty schools are now slated for construction or renovation by the Christie Administration in the state’s poorest cities, but it’s unlikely any of those buildings will open their doors to students by the end of the governor’s term in office, law makers and school officials said.

Last week, Christie announced plans to start construction on 20 projects serving students from New Brunswick, Phillipsburg and West New York among other districts. Progress on 10 projects he announced last year, however, has been sluggish, leaving the time line to complete the new projects in question.

"I’m happy it appears we have the governor’s attention about the need for these schools, but it doesn’t change the fact that not a single school will be completed during the Christie Administration," Assembly Education Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan said. "This is not some discretionary situation. It’s court mandated, and it’s a travesty."

The Schools Development Authority must construct and repair school facilities in 31 low-income districts across the state formerly known as Abbott districts. When Christie took office, he put all construction on hold for more than a year before unveiling the first 10 projects he planned to start.

Those projects are advancing "on schedule," said Kristen MacLean, a spokeswoman for the authority. She said significant planning, design, environmental testing, real estate acquisition and site work was needed before the construction projects could be advertised for bids.

"The SDA is proud to have kept its promises on schedule and will continue to not overpromise and under deliver as was done in the past," MacLean said. "The start of construction is not the start of a project."

No work was done to advance construction of Newark’s Oliver Street Elementary School for at least eight months after Christie’s announcement that construction was imminent, said Steve Morlino, Newark’s executive director of facilities management.

A few months ago, a working group of officials from the authority and the district had formed to evaluate if standardized design could be applied to the Oliver Street project. But standardization will be difficult, Morlino said, because Oliver Street School is slated to be built on an irregularly shaped lot.

"Obviously, there have been some delays since the governor’s previous announcement," Morlino said. "If we move forward on Oliver Street rapidly, we could have a school open by September 2014, but it wouldn’t take much to delay that to the following school year or the year after that."

Related coverage:

• Gov. Christie announces new plans for 20 N.J. schools across the state

• N.J. lawmaker: Head of Schools Development Authority hasn't adequately answered questions

• N.J. authority reveals approval process for $500M in construction projects at 10 schools

• N.J. lawmakers frustrated by lack of information on how 10 school constructions were approved

• Schools Development Authority CEO mum on spending plan for poor districts

See the rest here:
Gov. Christie's N.J. schools construction plan unlikely to conclude during his term in office