>Suburban school construction hits lowest point in past decade
2011 did not turn out to be a very good year for school construction in New Jersey.
On the heels of the Schools Development Authority launching just a single project so far in one of New Jersey’s poorest districts, the suburban districts had their slowest year in a decade as well.
On Tuesday, just two of six projects proposed by districts were approved by voters in the referendum votes that take place five times a year. That makes 2011 the lowest year for both the number of projects approved and projects proposed since the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act was signed in 2000.
Only a quarter of the 24 projects proposed overall this year won voter approval, according to the state’s School Boards Association, continuing a trend from the middle of the decade when a majority passed. In 2010, only half were approved. The best year was in 2003, when 93 projects were proposed, and voters passed 73 of them. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
