West Milford school district gets grant for previously-budgeted project

A $213,000 capital contribution from the state coffers was granted to the local school district last week.

The funding will cover 40 percent of the cost of window and exterior door replacements at West Milfords Apshawa and Marshall Hill elementary schools.

"Its good for the district that were getting money for the upgrades," board member James Foody said. "I just want what were getting back to be used for a good purpose and that purpose is tax relief."

According to Foody, the grant from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) is essentially long-awaited reimbursement for improvements budgeted by the school board and funded by the taxpayers in 2011. Last April, the district approved a base bid of $363,600 for window replacement projects at Apshawa, Marshall Hill, and Paradise Knoll schools, encompassing some of the grant-funded work, he said.

The $213,396 grant to offset $533,491 in total upgrades at Apshawa and Marshall Hill is the minimum that could be granted according to SDA guidelines, which ensure eligible projects are granted at least 40 percent of their cost. Since the SDAs Regular Operating District (ROD) grant program resumed in May 2010, the state has distributed more than $271 million in grants to school districts.

The 863 grants executed by the SDA in the last 27 months have funded more than $630 million in projects designed to address "health and safety issues, student overcrowding and other critical needs," according to a SDA press release. The state funding originates from $500 million in bonds sold by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The district has previously used ROD grants to fund the replacement of cafeteria tables in three of its six elementary schools. A $17,900 grant was awarded to the Maple Road Elementary School, nearly $20,900 was granted to the Marshall Hill Elementary School, and more than $26,800 went to Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School. The three separate efforts were completed in October 2010 and January 2011, according to state SDA records.

In September 2009, the district used a nearly $97,000 ROD grant to fund a $242,000 boiler replacement program for Maple Road Elementary School.

David M. Zimmer

Read the rest here:
West Milford school district gets grant for previously-budgeted project