Renovations on Connors School Postponed

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority has informed Acting Superintendent Peter Carter that the construction of the Connors School, which was scheduled to begin this June, has been put on hold. 

The letter states that the NJSDA is, at the request of the new administration, performing a review of the 2008 Capital plan, in cooperation with the Department of Education.

"Based on this review and the fact that the design work for the project has not been finalized, the Connors Elementary School Project will not advance to construction this june," wrote Marc Larkins, CEO of the NJSDA. 

"Also," Larkins wrote, "as we have previously advised the District, the NJSDA can no longer fund the leased space at St. Francis beyond June 2010."

Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. responded by sending a letter to Gov. Chris Christie's office, writing that the Connors school is in dire need of repair.

"Upgrades are essential to Connors Elementary School and the Hoboken School District has been anticipating such improvements," Ramos wrote. "It is the contention of the school district that such improvements are vital to the learning experience of students at Connors Elementary School."

Carter did not return multiple phone calls to his office on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement the SDA announced: "Regular Operating District (ROD) grant funding is ready to be released for 142 facilities projects at 111 schools in 59 school districts throughout the State."

" These grants signal another major step forward for the program, leveraging millions of dollars of construction in 18 of New Jersey's 21 counties," Larkins said in the statement. 

But, based on the SDA's list, Hoboken will not see any of those millions. 

Board of Education member Maureen Sullivan, who served as the chair of the facilities committee until April's elections, said in an e-mail: "I've always had my doubts that this project would get off the ground. I wasn't going to believe it until the checks from the state were cashed and they were rolling on the final coat of paint."

Carter, who visited the Jubilee Center on Thursday for a public meeting organized by parents who live in the Housing Authority, discussed the relocation of the Connors students. The students will be moved into the High School and into Demarest. He called the new school "Connors at Demarest."

"As soon as the state of New Jersey finishes the Connors school," Carter said at the meeting, "I'll come back for the ribbon cutting."