Gov. Jon Corzine vows Phillipsburg High School will be built on time, under budget

Tuesday, October 06, 2009
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
The Express-Times

LOPATCONG TWP. | Students from the aging, undersized Phillipsburg High School huddled around a tent crowded with dignitaries, watching Monday's ceremonious groundbreaking for a school they'll most likely never attend.

That fact did not sour the day -- far from it, in fact -- according to senior Elizabeth Namugosa.

"Although I'm really jealous of the kids going into the school, I'm also really happy for them and all the opportunities they'll have," the 17-year-old said.

That mood was in line with the entire tone of the ceremony for the new high school on Belvidere Road in the township.

The nearly 330,000-square-foot facility, due for completion in 2013, finally received a traditional kickoff that drew special local and state dignitaries, including New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and top members of the state Department of Education.

Corzine, engaged this fall in a three-way battle for re-election, recalled his reaction when he first learned of the 31 trailers housing Phillipsburg High School students since the population had outgrown the 1929 school at 200 Hillcrest Blvd.

"I got fired up about this," Corzine said. "For me it was one of those moments that I said, 'We have to get on the stick; we have to do it.'"

Corzine vowed the school would open on time and below the estimated $174 million price tag.

Kris Kolluri, chief executive of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, told the gathering the state must spend tax dollars "as frugally as possible."

The authority replaced the troubled state Schools Construction Corp. and is responsible for allocating $3.9 billion for school projects across New Jersey.

"This is a moment you all are happy about, but I'm just, frankly, relieved," Kolluri said of the groundbreaking.

School among costliest

Of the 53 projects the authority announced last year, Phillipsburg stands to receive among the most money for construction.

Kolluri said the state could not ignore the conditions students endured at the existing high school and the amount of potential that could be compromised by such surroundings.

"My job is to provide the environment; the teachers' job is to provide the skills," Kolluri said. "This, frankly, completes the picture for Phillipsburg."

Phillipsburg Mayor Harry Wyant Jr. said he was part of the first high school class after an expansion 50 years ago.

"I had no idea I'd be standing here addressing all you folks and taking a shovel to start the construction on a brand-new high school," Wyant said.

Long road recalled

School board President Paul Rummerfield admired the strong commitment to the school despite changes in administration, board members and community leaders since the high school was first imagined.

Progress ceased in 2005 when the former Schools Construction Corp. ran out of money.

"Through all the years, with all the changes, the common goal was not lost," Rummerfield said.

Corzine said the project will also provide immediate economic relief with much-needed jobs -- about 1,500 to be exact.

"We're helping people get through a tough recession and also looking after our kids' future," Corzine said.

Assistant Superintendent George Chando has been a part of the district's efforts to build a new school since it was first conceived. On Monday, he said words were hard to find.

"Sometimes you become speechless when you think of this day and all the work that went into it," Chando said. "Now the work begins."