 of Atlantic & Cumberland Counties
|
January 2008 Articles |
| Vineland Community Learning
Complex Opens Downtown
This report was compiled from
information
supplied by Kevin McElroy of the NJ Schools Development Authority and
F. John
Sbrana of the Vineland Public Schools Communications Department. The
21st century
community facility for 830 pre-kindergarten through fifth grade
students is a Students,
parents,
residents, area officials and representatives of agencies that played
key roles
in the demonstration project were on hand for the ribbon-cutting
ceremony. The
SDA funded the school construction. Project co-developers include
Joseph
Jingoli & Son, Inc., Tri-County Community Action Partnership and
Cumberland
Empowerment Zone Corporation. It was designed by USA Architects,
Planners and
Interior Designers, P.A. The
event also marked the
completion of the second of six state-designated demonstration projects
-
public/private community development initiatives that require new
schools to
incorporate community components into their design. The demonstration
projects
are designed to serve as a catalyst for private investment to
revitalize urban
communities with new housing and retail opportunities. "What
a Christmas
present,” said Charles Ottinger, Superintendent of Schools. “I
believe
the downtown community school project to be one of the most important projects ever undertaken in our community. The
school and everything it represents will be the centerpiece for
learning for
students and community members of all ages. “This
has been a
tedious, strenuous project,” said Mayor Perry Barse. “But we put
together a
great team and you see the results.” Barse
pointed out that
the city will save more than $350,000 a year when the project is
complete and
the IMPACT pre-school center and Vineland Adult Education program can
move out
of rented facilities. “This
project is not
about geography,” said Barse. “Our vision was to create a center of
community
learning and recreation and social interaction. We thank everyone who
is
helping to make this vision a reality.” “You
just have to see
this facility to believe it,” said Frank Giordano, Vineland Board of
Education president.
“This is the greatest day in the history of “The
opening of the new
Petway and The
school will open to
students from “On
behalf of the SDA, I
am pleased to celebrate another milestone in the ongoing efforts to
provide
21st century schools for the students of continuing
to work as
partners with the school district and city officials and collaborating
with
them throughout the entire development and construction process.” Besides
the The
126,000-square-foot
Center City School - built on a 9.7-acre campus off S.E. Boulevard
and
Montrose Street - includes 46 classrooms and community health and
social
services, adult education and recreational facilities.
The community
design features were an outgrowth of an intensive year-long planning
process
that involved more than 40 stakeholder community
groups/representatives.
Features accessible to the community
during-non-school hours include computer labs, a cafeteria with
kitchen, an
auditorium, a gym, playgrounds and athletic areas, and areas for
advanced
learning for the students during regular school hours and
the community after
the school day. A library/media center will house Vineland Public
Library's
"Youth Reading Readiness” program and be operated by the Library. A
wellness center will provide primary, preventative and dental health
care for
the students with operating support and staffing from Community
Healthcare,
Inc., a non-profit affiliated with South Jersey Healthcare System. The
$57.4 million Additional
administrative
and funding assistance for the community design features were provided
by
several not-for-profit and community organizations, such as the
Y.M.C.A., the
South Jersey Healthcare System, and the Vineland Public Library. |