Bernards Schools Awarded $73K State Grant

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority announced on Thursday that two state grants totaling $72,980 have been awarded to two school projects local school officials say already have been completed at the Cedar Hill and Oak Street elementary schools.

The district grant awarded to Bernards Township schools provides partial payment towards two projects with an estimated total cost of $182,450, the announcement said.

The state is due to pick up $72,980, leaving the school district's share at $109,470, the state SDA said.

Schools Business Administrator Nick Markarian said on Thursday afternoon that the improvements already are complete.

The work that has been done included repaving the existing parking and bus loop, including curb cuts, sidewalks and curbing at the ; and installing a chimney liner and flue for boilers at the , according to Markarian and information in the announcement.

Markarian said the school district had applied for the grant a while back, but the money has not yet been received. "We have to process some paperwork in order to receive the funding, [and] it can be a lengthy process," he said.

SDA Chief Executive Officer Marc Larkins, in cooperation with the Department of Education, had announced the resumption of the grant program in May 2010. Since then, the SDA has executed 704 grants. The state-grant program funds at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects in the Regular Operating District grant program, addressing health and safety issues, student overcrowding and other critical needs, according to the announcement.

The grant award program furthers the Governor’s commitment to providing the state’s children with safe, modern and efficient schools, the announcement said.

The N.J. Department of Education selects the school projects to receive grant funding from the SDA, the announcement said. The State has provided nearly $198 million in grants to local districts since the May 2010 announcement, contributing to projects estimated at a total of $434.7 million. Funding for the program was made available through the sale of $500 million in bonds by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), according to the announcement.