Passaic to build a new high school with $328 million in state funds

PASSAIC — Plans for a new city high school that will cost $328 million are moving forward and will be paid for with funds from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, the district's school board announced.

The announcement comes two years after the SDA gave its approval for the project in April 2022.

In a Feb. 7 memo, the SDA estimated the cost to demolish the current high school at 170 Paulison Ave. and build a new one at $328.1 million, which includes the cost of housing the students during the construction.

"This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to providing our students with state-of-the-art facilities conducive to learning and growth," said Passaic Board of Education President L. Daniel Rodriguez. "I extend heartfelt gratitude to the SDA, Gov. [Phil] Murphy, Assemblyman [Gary] Schaer and Mayor [Hector] Lora for their invaluable support and advocacy in securing this opportunity for our community."

The SDA also funded the building of the Dayton Avenue Education Campus, completed in 2023 for $241 million. Between the two projects, the state is investing more than half a billion dollars in the city's education.

The Dayton Avenue Educational Campus is 448,000 square feet and houses four schools. It is one of the largest projects handled by the SDA.

"The reconstruction of the Passaic High School is long overdue," Schaer said. "A new building will alleviate current overcrowding. Thanks to this funding from the SDA, a new state-of-the-art building will ensure that children receive the quality education they deserve."

Replacing Passaic High School

The current high school building was constructed in 1956, with additions built in 1975, 1977 and 1996. The city added two academies, in part to alleviate crowding and to offer different educational opportunities.

The current high school has outlived its useful life span, the SDA said.

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It makes more sense to demolish the old 313,000-square-foot school, which is undersized and educationally inadequate, and build a new 490,000-square-foot one, read the authority's Feb. 7 memorandum about the project.

A review of the existing facility found that "the site is inadequate to further expand the existing structure and significant renovations would be required to address both education program needs and replacement of existing building systems that are either at or near the end of their useful life," the SDA memorandum said.

The project has changed

Originally, the SDA's capital plan in 2022 called for a high school that would house 3,765 students. The plan has been updated and now calls for one main high school for 2,400 students and the rest of the students, about 1,600 from grades six to 12, to attend either the district's Academy for Science and Engineering or the Gifted and Talented Academy.

There was a proposal, shortly after the SDA approved the project, to swap land with the municipal government. In that scenario, the new school would have been built on City Hall land and a new municipal building constructed where the current high school stands. The concept was not approved and was not supported by the SDA.

Logistical challenges

Where will the high school students be educated during the 18 to 24 months it may take to build a new high school? That remains to be worked out.

"The only thing we are certain now is the high school students will be redistricted throughout the city," said Rodriguez, the school board president. "Everything else is in the works."

Schools Superintendent Sandra Montañez-Diodonet said the district has not discussed specific plans with the SDA. The hope, she said, is to start the project at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, but she added that there is no timeline as of now.

More: Passaic County introduces 2024 budget. Here's what it means for taxpayers

"Please note the project does not necessarily begin in June of 2025, however, we plan on vacating the premises by that date so that the SDA can begin their site work," Montañez-Diodonet said.

The SDA memo said funding has been included in the budget if necessary to help thedistrict to augment its plan through either temporary classroom units or leased facilities.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic NJ to build a new high school with funds from state