State and local officials announced today that roofing projects in six Long Branch schools are at or near completion and architects have been chosen to design the new elementary school, middle school and high school.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) Executive Director Caren Franzini and Senator Joseph Palaia joined Long Branch Superintendent Joseph M. Ferraina and Mayor Adam Schneider at the Elberon Elementary School to give an update on school construction progress made in the district under the Educational Facilities and Construction Act. Under the law, EDA is responsible for the construction and financing for school construction in the state's 30 special needs Abbott districts, following approval by the Department of Education.
"As the school construction program moves forward around the state, Long Branch stands as an example of how state and local officials can successfully work together to provide safe, quality schools for our children," said Franzini. "I am very proud of the progress made in Long Branch which is demonstrated - literally - by the new roof over our heads today."

Roofing projects at the Elberon Elementary School, Lenna W. Conrow Elemenatary School, Gregory Elementary School have been completed, and roofing work at the Audrey W. Clark Elementary will be completed by December 14. Roofing at the Long Branch High School is 60 percent complete, and roofing at the Long Branch Middle School is 50 percent complete. Both projects are scheduled to be complete by the end of January. . The new roofing at the Conrow, Gregory and Clark schools was designed by Garrison Architects of Mount Laurel and constructed by Knight Contracting of Clarksburg. Bovis Lend Lease of Princeton is the project management firm overseeing the Long Branch roofing projects.

"All children deserve the best, and Long Branch Public Schools' children will soon have the opportunity to learn in state-of-the-art facilities thanks to the State of New Jersey Department of Education and the EDA," said Superintendent Ferraina. "Today's global economy demands that we graduate students who are technologically savvy, adept at problem solving and able to compete in a work environment that requires exceptional organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and set and achieve goals. To insure that we can do our jobs properly, school facilities need to reflect the demands of our times."