A special advisory panel to Governor Jon Corzine last week called for replacement of the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation with a new agency housed in the Department of Treasury and devoted exclusively to the construction, rather than the financing, of school facilities.

The Interagency Working Group on School Construction also recommended turning over the distribution of state construction grants, now a responsibility of the SCC, to the state Department of Education—if the grant program is restored in the future.  Panel members included SCC Chairman Barry L. Zubrow, Acting Education Commissioner Lucille Davy and Assistant Education Commissioner Gordon MacInnes.

Much Work, Little Money  The SCC is currently managing approximately $3 billion in ongoing work, primarily in the Abbott school districts.  The portfolio includes 69 projects currently in construction and 59 projects that were included in its July 2005 capital plan.

“The bottom line is that the SCC is currently managing 128 projects with over 300 waiting in the wings—all of which need to be completed with very limited resources,” said Scott Weiner, SCC special counsel and transitional CEO.

The report did not recommend replenishment of the state’s depleted school construction fund until creation of the new oversight agency in the Treasury.

“At such time…we will recommend…a collaborative process with stakeholders and the Legislature to initiate additional funding and legislative initiatives to further improve elements of the program.”

The full report is available from the Office of the Governor.