NJSBA last week thanked Governor Jon Corzine for ordering a review of the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, calling it an important first step for New Jersey to recharge its lagging school construction program in poor communities.

“Governor Corzine’s executive order creating a special counsel to oversee New Jersey’s school construction program and his appointment of six new members to the board of directors of the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) represent a positive and necessary step,” said Edwina M. Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA). “His actions move the state closer to restoring public confidence, recharging the school construction program, and rebuilding our aging school facilities.”

The Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act of 2000 appropriated $8.6 billion toward school construction. Of that amount, $6 billion was earmarked to fund 100% of school construction in the 31 Abbott districts. The remainder funded up-front grants that covered a minimum of 40% of eligible costs in all other school districts. The SCC oversees construction in the Abbott districts.

All of the Abbott funding has been spent or earmarked, and hundreds of projects remain unfinished. The funding for construction in non-Abbott districts has been depleted, and schools no longer receive cash grants—although schools anticipate receiving the 40% funding through debt-service aid, which is paid in  installments over many years.