School construction projects remain on N.J. to-do list

The head of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority does not believe the rejection of more than half of the local school budget proposals last month will put a brake on school construction projects.

The head of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority does not believe the rejection of more than half of the local school budget proposals last month will put a brake on school construction projects.

Schools Development Authority CEO Mark Larkins says there is still a need to build new schools in the Garden State.

“What we know is that there’s an need because we hear it expressed by the community, we hear it expressed by the districts and the representatives from these districts so I don’t believe that this vote has any impact on the need or the desire for updated and state of the art educational facilities in the state,” says Larkins.

But Education Commissioner Bret Schundler says recent school budget defeats may prompt some school boards to defer new construction projects.

$500 million in bonding was authorized last month so the Schools Development Authority can help fund projects that have already been approved.