9-27-09 Education News of Note      8-22-08 School Construction Guidelines Released      6-25-08 'State to borrow 3.9B for school construction'      6-24-08 State Budget passed yesterday, as did the School Construction, Pension Reform, and Affordable Housing bills      6-23-08 A2873-S1457 School Construction bills up for vote today, along with State Budget FY09      6-20-08 State Budget stalls, school construction is one obstacle      6-18-08 School Construction bill is before Senate Budget & Approps Comm tomorrow - GSCS is tracking the issue      8-8-07 Editorial 'School [construction] program needs more than a facelift'      8-7-07 'State rebuilds school construction program'      School Construction: Third Report to Governor by Interagency Working Group      9-15-06 Star Ledger & AP - 3.25B suggested for school construction      9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction      August 2006 District Resolution for School Construction Aid      School Construction Symposium July 27, 2006 for Regular Operating Districs [Non Abbotts]      10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes      9-29-05 EMAILNET School Construction Issues      7-29-05 EMAILNET      3-15-06 Report to Gov re school construction Interagency WorkingGroup      3-15-06 NY Times 'Crisis at School Agency Reflects Missteps'      3-10-06 New Management at School Construction Corp      3-8-06 Gannet Press on Buildling Our Children's Future coalition      3-4-06 Star Ledger SCC Agency chief puts burden on districts      3-4-06 Gannett - SCC chief says Abbott districts may have to 'ante up'      List - Regular Operating Districts waiting State Share Payments confirmation for school construction      GSCS 10-3-05 School Construction Testimony before the Joint Comm. on Public Schools      Legislators Assail School Building Agency at Hearing      Dept Ed Directive 7-6-05: School Construction Sec 15 Grant Funding for more than 450 districts questionable      2-14-06 TrentonTimes Letter to the Editor on school construction      2-9-06 Star Ledger School agency reformers discuss goals, problems      1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration      12-21-05 Inspector General's Report on the School Construction Corporation      12-20-05 Star Ledger on NJ Supreme Court decision on stalled school construction      12-20-05 The Record 'Where Will the Bills End?' NJ Supreme Court releases its opinion on stalled school construction program.      12-15-05 Star Ledger School bond plans get resounding 'no'      11-13-05 Star Ledger Sunday front page 'Blueprint for 6 Billion Dollar Boondagle      9-29-05 Star Ledger 'NJ in hole for 53M after vote on school funds promised for construction      EMAILNET 6-10-05 School Construction Funding Heads Up!      Tuesday's School Construction Bond Referenda: Some facts      School Construction aid entitlements Abbott (pdf)      School Construction aid entitlements 55% and over Districts (pdf)      School construction aid entitlement districts 40% to 55% (pdf)      Debt Service v State Share 0 to 40 Districts, before and after Ch. 72 PL2000 law(pdf)      School Construction Sec 15 Grant Funding in Question - DOE Directive 7-6-05      school Construction DOE Directive 7-6-05

School Construction Sec 15 Grant Funding in Question - DOE Directive 7-6-05

 

July 6, 2005

 

 

TO:                 County Superintendents

Chief School Administrators

School Business Administrators

 

FROM:           Richard Rosenberg

Deputy Commissioner

 

SUBJECT:   Funding of School Facilities Projects for Under 55% District Aid Percentage Districts

 

As you are aware, the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, P.L. 2000, c. 72 (the “Act”) authorizes the issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $2.5 billion to finance the state share of costs for school facilities projects in districts with a district aid percentage less than 55% (“Under 55% District”).  Under the Act, an Under 55%  District may elect to have state share for an approved school facilities project determined pursuant to Section 9 or Section 15 of the Act.  Section 15 provides for grants by the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (“NJSCC”). 

The NJSCC has informed the department that the $2.5 billion statutory bond cap may be reached in the near future.  It is not clear when or if additional funds beyond the original appropriation will become available as legislative action would be required for additional funding.  Therefore, by this letter the department is notifying the Under 55% Districts that they may wish to consider pursuing Section 9 assistance as an alternative for Section 15 grants for funding the state share of the costs of their school facilities projects.

The department advises that any district planning a September 2005 or later referendum may wish to draft the referendum question to include receiving state share either as a Section 15 grant or calculated pursuant to Section 9.  You are advised to consult with bond counsel for further guidance in determining how to proceed with referendum questions in light of these developments. 

Chief School Administrators

July 5, 2005

Page 2

 

 

Please contact Mr. Bernard E. Piaia, Jr. at (609) 984-2738 of the Department’s Office of School Facilities, if you need any further information.  Should you have questions about the Section 15 grant program, please contact Mr. Larry Wright at (609) 943-4966 at the NJSCC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RR/BEP/cp:under 55 funding letter 7/5/05

c:  Members, State Board of Education

     Commissioner William L. Librera

     John F. Spencer, CEO, NJSCC

     Isaac Bryant

     Ellen Frede

     Gordon MacInnes

     Albert Monillas

     Penelope Lattimer

     Richard Ten Eyck

     Judith Weiss

     William King

     Yut’se Thomas

     Erica Leak

     Bernard E. Piaia, Jr.

     LEE Group

     Lynne Strickland, GSC