Galloway Gets $2.4 Million From State for School Projects

The Galloway Township School District learned Wednesday that it will receive $2,414,384 in state funding to help pay for school renovation projects.

Among an estimated $5 million worth of projects in the district are the replacement of roofs at the Smithville and Roland Rogers elementary schools.

The administration of Gov. Chris Christie announced on Wednesday the approval of $507.7 million in state funds to help fund the cost of 1,538 individual school construction projects in 331 school districts throughout the state.

Of the state funding, $19.5 million will go to support 45 projects in 13 school districts in Atlantic County, supporting a total of $39.9 million in school construction throughout the county.

“Atlantic County students, teachers and school administrators will benefit from this infusion of more than half a billion dollars in state funding,” said Governor Christie in a news release. “These grants will allow for efficient, state-of-the-art school facilities that will help foster an improved learning environment for our children.”

Between state and local contributions, the total project costs of the 1,538 eligible projects are estimated to exceed $1.1 billion. The state-funded grants represent at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects in the Regular Operating Districts (RODs) and address health and safety issues, student overcrowding and other critical needs. The grants are contingent on local approval of the remaining cost to school districts. Regular Operating District grants are separate from the funding for the 31 “SDA districts,” where the Schools Development Authority is responsible for financing 100 percent of eligible costs.