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

“One of our greatest responsibilities is to ensure that New Jersey’s students have the learning environments that they need in order to learn and thrive,” said SDA CEO Manuel Da Silva. “The approval of these projects identified by the SDA’s Statewide Strategic Plan as priority projects is an important step in our efforts to address educational facility needs and District-wide overcrowding that impact thousands of students statewide.”

“Thanks to a critical investment from Governor Murphy and the Legislature, the SDA’s Board of Directors today was able to advance projects in areas experiencing the highest percentage of overcrowding across the 31 SDA Districts,” said SDA Chairman, Robert Nixon. “These projects will deliver approximately 2,000 student seats in state-of-the-art facilities that will foster learning and student success.”

The advancement of three additional capital projects is possible due to the $200 million direct FY2022 budget appropriation SDA received in 2021. The three new projects will significantly address overcrowding experienced district-wide in three school districts. The projects include:

      • Elizabeth – New Elementary School for approximately 1,000 students
      • Garfield – New Replacement PK to 5 School for approximately 700 students
      • Bridgeton – An addition to Bridgeton HS for approximately 300 student

The SDA has completed 31 of 39 projects in its current capital program, providing over 28,000 new seats throughout the SDA Districts. With the inclusion of these projects, the SDA will have 11 active projects in its current Capital portfolio.

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.

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.