State Funds Earmarked For Construction Projects At Morristown Schools

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Morris School District will be getting new funding under a state grant 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.

The Morris School District will receive $137,936 and the Morris Plains Borough District will receive $13,167, 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.

In early 2023, the Morris Plains School District approved an approximately $9.5 million bond referendum to fund necessary renovation projects and an expansion plan for Mountain Way School.

The referendum passed a public vote in March by 497 votes.

The Mountain Way expansion project includes the following components:

• creating five new classrooms that will be flexible to accommodate seven new instructional spaces including a sensory room.
• revitalizing six existing learning spaces.
• adding two single occupancy accessible bathrooms.
• including a new outdoor classroom and a new outdoor playground with rubber flooring, as well as a turfed play area around the new play equipment.

The Borough School renovation project will also renovate all staff and student restrooms, making the school more accessible and modern, the district said.

In November, the district informed the community that the asphalt had been cleaned from the site, the awning outside the kindergarten wing entrance was removed, and 16 truckloads of crushed gravel were delivered.

"We are excited for the next phase of the project where we will start to see the building take shape," the district said.