N.J. announces school projects approved for state grants

Thirty-five South Jersey school districts are eligible for state funding aimed at construction and maintenance projects, state education officials announced Wednesday.

The tri-county districts are among 183 statewide that are eligible for a share of about $286 million, which would be used for 765 planned projects. Among those eligible are six vocational districts, including Camden County Technical Schools and the Burlington County Institute of Technology.

The funding program has existed for several years, but the Christie administration put it on hold for examination.

The money for the projects announced Wednesday will be released provided that voters approve the work. This is the second round of approved projects announced since Christie took office. The full list is available at www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/aprod.pdf

The state grants can cover 40 percent or more of the projects' costs and, according to education spokesmen, could generate as many as 6,000 jobs.

"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," Christie said in a written statement.

New Jersey School Boards Association spokesman Frank Belluscio said the grants "will help many districts move forward with needed facility projects and will be instrumental in gaining necessary voter approval of the construction plans."

Local projects range from security systems in Burlington Township and Haddonfield to new classrooms in East Greenwich and Kingsway Regional schools.