PARSIPPANY, NJ — The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District will be getting new state funding to address critical facility needs.
The New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) announced recently that $75 million would be appropriated to school districts across the state to assist with emergency construction and other capital needs.
“Every New Jersey student and school staff member deserves a space for learning that is safe, secure, and supportive of the highest educational outcomes,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education.
The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District will receive $167,152, according to the state’s figures.
Districts can use these funds for emergent or capital maintenance projects or to offset eligible project or maintenance costs incurred this fiscal year, state officials said.
Funding may be directed toward projects such as site upgrades, HVAC repairs or replacements, renovations to the building envelope (masonry, roofing, etc.), safety and security needs, as well as building maintenance activities.
“Today’s announcement builds on our work to improve education outcomes for all New Jersey students. Providing our students with a top-notch education means ensuring their classroom environments are safe and conducive to learning,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This funding will go toward critical school infrastructure projects throughout the state, bolstering our school communities and ensuring districts are able to meet the needs of their students.”
Of the total amount, $50 million will be provided for projects in the SDA Districts, which are the 31 districts where the SDA oversees school construction. The remaining $25 million will be available for all other districts, i.e., regular operating districts.
The NJDOE website provides a chart that shows the funds available to local school districts for qualified project costs for the current round of funding.
District officials have not said how the new funds will be used in district schools.
In the last year, the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District began building on a year-long construction plan designed to offset the township’s anticipated increasing school enrollment.
Read More: $6.5M Expansion Project Kicks Off At Parsippany Elementary School
The $6.5 million expansion project, which will add six new classrooms and a small group teaching space to Littleton Elementary School, is being funded by the district’s capital reserve fund.
Because of the conservative spending criteria of the board of education and the office of the interim school business administrator, Robin Tedesco, the district was able to fund the project without additional taxpayer dollars.
Over the years, the district has purposefully set up reserves to fund initiatives like these, sparing households from escalating costs.
“With all the residential building going on in Parsippany and our elementary schools already at capacity, we worked with our architects to identify the best school to start a much-needed expansion project,” Alison Cogan, Board President, said.
The extra classrooms at Littleton will consist of preschool and kindergarten classrooms with self-contained bathrooms, small classrooms for resource room instruction, and a small office for child study team members.
