ELIZABETH, NJ – The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) joined Elizabeth School District officials yesterday to highlight ongoing demolition work to make way for a new Elementary School at the site of the former Joseph Battin School.

“As the demolition of this former school begins, the SDA is readying the site for construction of a new, modern educational facility that will begin to alleviate the significant issue of overcrowding experienced in the District,” said SDA CEO Manuel Da Silva. “This initial project phase marks the first step on the journey to the opening of a new educational structure that will be transformative for the education of thousands of Elizabeth students in the years ahead.”

The new elementary school will be a 142,000-square-foot facility, designed to educate a maximum of 1,000 students in grades prekindergarten through eight. The new school will be built on the site of the existing Joseph Battin School, which is being demolished. The school will be the 11th new school facility constructed by the SDA in Elizabeth.

USA Environmental Management, Inc. was awarded a general construction contract for $5,855,000 to perform abatement, demolition, and limited site restoration activities. All demolition and associated site work is anticipated to be completed in July 2025.

The next phase of advancement for this important project will be advertising for a design-build contractor to design and construct the school. SDA anticipates issuance of this procurement opportunity in the fourth quarter of 2024. Following approval of an award, the design phase would commence. The design-build approach typically allows some design and construction activities to proceed concurrently through phased advancement. The total estimated SDA project cost for the new school is $96.2 million.

The SDA has invested $494 million in completed projects in Elizabeth alone, including 10 new schools and 32 health and safety/grant/emergent projects. In addition, the SDA has provided $13.8 million through funding available for Capital Maintenance and Emergent Grants.

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 $2 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 900 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.