in next few months
Work on new high school expected to begin
in next few months
BY CAROLYN O’CONNELL
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — For the next two years, business as usual will be a bit different at the city’s middle school.
Last week the district began construction of a new $50 million, 240,000-square-foot facility. While that construction is taking place on the same piece of land as the existing middle school, on Indiana and Bath avenues, school will be in session with only minimal disturbance, according to Superintendent of Schools Joseph M. Ferraina.
"Kids will still be able to attend the school without having to be housed in trailers," Ferraina said. "This is an amazing way to do it."
Once completed, the new facility will have 63 classrooms, a cafeteria, two gyms, a media center, an auditorium, a vocal and instrumental music room, and a television studio.
The new school is approved for a student capacity of 1,200. Ferraina noted that the middle school now has 1,100 students.
The formal ground-breaking ceremony for the project was held last week with state Sen. Joseph Palaia (R-11), Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6), Mayor Adam Schneider, Councilman David Brown, city administration officials, and officials from the state School Construction Corp. and the school board on hand.
While classes will be held as usual, the project does not come without inconveniences, said Ferraina.
Fencing installed for the project blocked access to the sidewalk along Bath Avenue drawing concern for pedestrians, including students who walk to school.
The remedy included a walkway that allowed students to access the sidewalk while blocking any access to the construction site. A bicycle path was also created on the south side of Bath Avenue next to the sidewalk.
Ferraina said a police officer is assigned to direct traffic in the area of Bath and Indiana avenues.
With the new school being built on the existing school’s athletic fields, team sports are facing somewhat of a dilemma.
"We will just find a way to make do," said Ferraina.
The superintendent said that games will be played away from home and practices will be held in surrounding community fields and facilities this fall season.
Eight properties on Indiana and Eastbourne avenues, acquired by the state Department of Education for the district’s use, will be turned into fields, the superintendent said.
In addition to the changes facing the students, Ferraina said, parking for staff will be an issue while the work is being done. Neighbors will also face a problem with noise associated with the construction project.
Within months, the high school is expected to be added to a list of active school construction projects. Built in 1926, it stands adjacent to the middle school and will undergo several changes.
"The section of the high school that will remain intact," said Ferraina, "is the original high school built in 1926. The rest will be rebuilt."
Both schools are expected to be completed in August 2005.