Rose Perrotta works on a project during a ceramics class that was held at the Howell Senior Center on April 26. In addition to the ceramics class, the senior center also offered a knitting class. For more photos, see Photo Galleries at www.gmnews.com.
ERIC SUCAR staff Five state grants that seek to help local education officials provide safe, modern and efficient schools for New Jersey children have been awarded to the Plumsted School District. The money will help to pay for improvements at the district’s four schools.
Executed by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, the Regular Operating District grant program provided Plumsted with a total of $281,600. “As a district, we were very pleased to receive the funds,” Plumsted Superintendent of Schools Karen Jones said.
According to Business Administrator Sean Gately, the grants will cover about 50 percent of the cost to complete five projects in the schools.
The projects include an upgrade of the security system in each school (telephones, cameras, electronic access). The cost of the security work ranges from $69,458 (New Egypt Middle School) to $171,972 (New Egypt High School).
Upgrades to the lighting and sound systems in the New Egypt High School auditorium will cost about $153,610, according to Gately.
Additional funds for the planned capital improvements throughout the school district were provided in a previous budget.
“These projects address building infrastructure upgrades while providing tax relief at the local level,” Jones said. “Most of the funds will enhance the district’s overall security for students and staff.”
Since SDA Chief Executive Officer Mark Larkins and the state Department of Education announced in May 2010 that the grant program was returning from a hiatus, 810 grants have been awarded, totaling more than $245.5 million, according to a press release. Projects totaling just over $500 million were partially funded by the grant program.
According to SDA officials, the program funds “at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects” in regularly operating districts.
Districts that will receive a grant are selected by administrators in the Department of Education. SDA officials said the funding for the grant program comes from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s sale of $500 million in bonds.