By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
Two local school districts will receive part of the $180 million in state aid available for capital maintenance and construction projects, Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced Friday.
New Hanover Township and Northern Burlington County Regional school districts are among the 133 districts in the state to receive money under the first round of Schools Development Authority regular operating district grant allocations. Funding went to 400 projects in those districts, according to a press release.
The local districts will pay for the portion of the cost not covered by state funds.
New Hanover is set to receive over $2.9 million from the state for its nearly $5 million Level 2, or mid-priority, renovation project. Work will include a new lighting, a new fire alarm, new security hardware, and the installation of a closed-caption television system.
NBC will receive funds for two Level 1, or high-priority, capital maintenance projects totaling almost $2.3 million, nearly $1.1 million of which will come from the state.
NBC’s two projects will each require a referendum, both of which will be held April 21. Voters will be asked to approve a $92,153 local share for a complete fire alarm replacement in the east section of the high school, as well as an approximately $1.1 million local share of fire alarm, equipment, and partial roof replacement in the west wing.
The 400 approved grant projects have total estimated project costs of over $447 million, according to a press release. State share, based on district cost estimates and assuming all districts will be able to raise their local share, is over $180 million. Local share for all projects was almost $267 million.
The New Hanover School has also received a $5,000 grant from the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, along with first place in its Expanding Breakfast Award for its achievement in enhancing its school breakfast program, the association announced March 4.
The school offers “grab ‘n go” service in the cafeteria, as well as breakfast in the classroom, school business administrator and Board of Education secretary Deborah Paone said in the release.
”We now have 40 to 45 percent average daily participation for our school breakfast program,” she said.
To implement the program, she arranged for the early arrival of buses and undertook a survey of students to determine which breakfast foods they prefer. That led to the inclusion of options such as breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, and string cheese.
”Since we expanded our breakfast program, the students are much more alert and are getting better grades,” Ms. Paone said. “There are also a lot fewer visits to the nurse and to the principal. Discipline issues have also decreased dramatically.”

