State ‘Re-Exploring New H.S. Building?

Reprinted from AMBOY BEACON,


Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010

PERTH AMBOY — In a surprise move, the newly-reorganized School Development
Authority (SDA) under CEO Mark Larkins is “re-exploring the possibility of
getting a new high school for Perth Amboy,” Superintendent of Schools John
Rodecker announced last week in his report to the Board of Education.
“Mr. (Board Secretary/Business Administrator Derek) Jess and I spoke with
the team assigned to us by SDA about the continuing overcrowding issue, and
they agree that getting a new high school addition might be shortsighted,”
Rodecker reported.He quickly added that “they’re certainly not making any promises, but the
site, as far as we know, is still available.” In January 2009, the Board abandoned its plans to construct a brand-new,state-of-the-art high school on a Route 35 site now occupied by the Delaney
Homes buildings, which were vacated by the Housing Authority to make-way for
the school. Instead, Board members agreed at that time to substitute plans to build a
four-level classroom addition to the existing Perth Amboy High School, Eagle Avenue and Francis Street.
State Department of Education (DOE) officials reportedly notified the Board informally that already-approved funding to construct a new elementary school at Seaman Street and Sayre Avenue could be switched to build an addition to the high school, but only if the Board dropped its application to build a
new high school. Up to now, “nothing has been done with the proposed addition to the high
school,” which would reduce overcrowding but not eliminate it. “Don’t get your hopes up yet,” Rodecker cautioned Board members regarding a new high school. “It’s still a matter of money.” At this point, there is no money available to build the $200 million, 21st Century high school designed by architect John Ronan, although funding could be forthcoming for a less-pretentious version. “Overcrowding is still an issue in this district, but the state still has 30 other (“special needs”) districts,” Rodecker said. “We hope to hear back
from them (DOE officials) in the near-future.”