By: Brian Roach – Staff Writer
The Hopewell Valley Regional School District is eligible to receive $1,012,705 in state facilities grants.
According to a recent announcement from Gov. Chris Christie’s office, the grant comes as part of the state’s Regular Operating District program for capital maintenance and construction projects.
"We were certainly hoping to receive (these grants)," Hopewell Valley Superintendent Tom Smith said. "A lot of things have been ‘up in the air’ lately, but we’re happy to be eligible. These funds will allow us to complete several much-needed projects (within the Valley’s school district)."
According to Robert Colavita, board secretary/business administrator, the state grant money will "certainly" fund roof replacements at Bear Tavern Elementary, a boiler replacement at Toll Gate Grammar, and the installation of vertical lifts at Hopewell Elementary. The state will pay $826,722 of the estimated $920,680 total cost for these three projects.
Work on these projects will begin in the summer of 2011, Mr. Colavita noted. The school board had hoped to be notified of the district’s eligibility in May, Mr. Colavita said, so that some of the work could have been completed this summer.
He also said the school district is considering projects to upgrade the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning units at Toll Gate, Bear Tavern and Hopewell Elementary, and to replace windows at Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary.
Work on these projects depends on the availability of "additional funds," Mr. Colavita said.
If the district were to undertake all five projects, the total cost would be $2,531,762 – with $1,012,705 coming from state grants, and $1,519,057 coming from the district’s capital reserve account and "possible energy-saving incentive programs," Mr. Colavita said. "We only get (all of) the money if we actually complete these (five) specific projects," Mr. Colavita explained. "And we only get 40 percent of actual expenditures up to the eligible cost projection. If the project comes in under or over budget (our) grant award is adjusted accordingly."
Statewide, 177 school districts are eligible for approximately $270 million in grants toward the cost of 740 capital maintenance and construction projects under the Regular Operating District program, the New Jersey Department of Education said in a press release.
And, according to the new release, these projects are estimated to cost approximately $697 million – creating as many as 6,000 jobs over the course of construction.
"Efficient, up-to-date school facilities are a priority of this administration and part of ensuring New Jersey children receive a quality education," Gov. Christie said in the release. "These grants will fund critical projects across our state, helping to improve the learning environments for our students and providing necessary support to districts by easing their local property-tax burden."
"This funding for school improvements will help school districts keep their facilities properly maintained and ease the burden on local property taxpayers of doing so," Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler added.
A complete report on the state’s allocations – including the districts receiving grants, the approved projects and available funds – can be found at: www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/aprod.pdf.

