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Schools Development Authority: Shovels in the ground—almost
For the first time since Gov. Chris Christie revamped its management, the Schools Development Authority yesterday put out to bid a new construction project for one of the state’s neediest districts.
The proposal is for the first phase of the Academic High School in Elizabeth, among the 31 districts targeted for the court-ordered construction program. A second project for a new Long Branch elementary school remains under final review, but continues to be promised for the end of the year.
“That’s still the target,” said Kristen MacLean, the SDA’s communication director.
The deliberate restart of SDA’s work has been eagerly awaited and long criticized by Democratic and even some Republican legislators. Christie put a pause on new work while his administration revamped the beleaguered agency, but even after naming a dozen projects last spring that would proceed, none had yet to be put to bid, let alone broken ground. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
