School projects on hold at least until August State says School Construction Corp. still isn't ready to distribute project money. Thursday, May 18, 2006 • By SARAH CASSI • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | It will be three more months before the state discusses funding for the School Construction Corp.'s suspended construction projects, which includes Phillipsburg's proposed $88 million high school. SCC spokesman Kevin McElroy said state officials would meet in July, and a panel appointed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine will provide estimates on the previously approved projects in August. "Everything is still contingent on getting the additional funding," McElroy said, adding state legislators have to approve additional money. "There's still a lot of work to be done." The governor-appointed panel, the Interagency Working Group on School Construction, issued a report Wednesday that said the SCC is improving, but isn't ready to distribute project money. Former Gov. James McGreevey created the SCC in 2000 to dole out $8.6 billion in funding to the state's Abbott and non-Abbott school districts. Last year, the SCC announced it was down to $1.5 billion out of its initial $6 billion allocation and would only finance 59 of an anticipated 350 projects statewide. Phillipsburg's new high school project is one of 97 that remain on hold. According to the panel's report, a new review process using educational priorities and construction schedules should be created to review all of the projects. The panel said at least 25 percent of the suspended projects would receive a higher priority than projects currently in the capital plan. "We've been attempting to get information as to where this has been going for a long time," Phillipsburg Superintendent Gordon Pethick said. "Any news at this point is good news." Richard Shapiro, a lawyer representing Phillipsburg and 15 other Abbott districts, said the most critical information is how much money is needed for the requested projects. "The only thing we can do is wait until August," Shapiro said. "I wish the whole process was moving faster they're not coming up with concrete numbers." Shapiro said it would be inappropriate for the districts to look to municipal taxpayers for help. "The districts shouldn't be seeking other forms of funding. The Abbott decision ensured the state would fund these projects," Shapiro said. "It's a state responsibility." District officials are making contingency plans for the next school year. Pethick said he's waiting on next year's enrollment numbers to see if additional trailers need to be added to the 30-plus already at the high school. Pethick said the deadline to request additional portable classrooms is November. Reporter Sarah Cassi can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at scassi@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.