TRENTON, July 18, 2000--Edwina M. Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), issued the following statement today following Governor Whitman's signing of the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, S-200, (Gormley, Lynch/Collins, Malone). The measure will provide $8.6 billion in state funding toward rebuilding schools statewide:

"It has been a long road, but well worth the trip. Today, we have legislation that can help any New Jersey community that is planning a school facilities project. We thank Governor Whitman and the Senate and Assembly leadership for their sensitivity to the needs of the education community during the crafting of this bill over the past two years.

"The legislation will help local school districts decrease the amount of debt they would otherwise have to incur to build schools. It will reduce the burden on local property taxpayers to pay for new or upgraded facilities. Therefore, it will enable communities to more easily provide the school facilities their children need. Moreover, by making the funding retroactive to September 1998, it will help those districts that, for reasons of student health or safety or burgeoning enrollment, had to move forward with their facilities programs before the legislation was finalized.

"The average school in New Jersey was built nearly half a century ago, in 1952. In recent years, we've seen swelling enrollments and establishment of higher academic standards. Today, many school districts not only need more space, but also new technology and upgraded science laboratories.

"During the coming months, the state will set up the procedures to put the construction program into effect and distribute the funds. NJSBA will work with the education community in continuing to provide input as we enter the crucial implementation phase."