SENATE ADDS $250 MILLION FOR SCHOOL SECURITY GRANTS TO VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATION BOND ISSUE

Sweeney, Oroho, Gordon cite school shooting concerns in expanding bond issue to provide funding for school facility security improvements

TRENTON – The Senate today voted to create a $250 million grant program to improve school security as part of a $750 million bond issue sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester), Senator Bob Gordon (D-Bergen/Passaic) and Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex).

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our schoolchildren,” said Senate President Sweeney. “The horror of school shootings from Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 to Parkland, Florida, last month makes it clear that we need to do everything we can to make our schools safe, and that includes improving the security of our school buildings.”

The Career and Technical Education and Security Bond Act (S-2293) was amended by the Senate today to add $250 million for school security grants, and to require the Commissioner of Education to develop procedures and criteria for the evaluation and administration of school facility security grants.

“The Parkland School shootings are just the latest wake-up call. We would urge the state Department of Education to be prepared to administer the school security grant program as quickly as possible after the bond referendum goes to the voters for approval next November,” said Senator Gordon.

“If voters agree – and I believe they will agree overwhelmingly – this program will help us all sleep better at night,” said Senator Oroho. “The safety of our schoolchildren and our educators is paramount. Our school buildings weren’t built for security. We need to take all possible precautions.”

The $250 million for school security grants was added to $450 million to be allocated for grants to county vocational school districts and $50 million for county college career and technical education grants. While there is no matching requirement for the school security grants, the legislation was amended today to require county vocational-technical schools and county colleges to pay for 25 percent of the cost of technical education grant projects.

“New Jersey businesses face a critical shortage of technical-skilled workers, yet our county vocational-technical schools turn down 15,000 qualified high school students every year because of a lack of adequate facilities,” said Senate President Sweeney. “This bond issue is an investment in our future. This skilled worker shortage is one of the most critical factors stunting our state’s economic growth, and we need to address it.”

Sweeney said the bond issue would meet that need by providing priority in the grant process to county vocational-technical schools and county colleges that offer stackable credential programs that enable students to graduate with a recognized industry credential, and to vocational-technical school and county college that enter into partnerships to provide joint career and technical education programs.  Priority will also be given to projects in which schools partner directly with employers to provide specific technical education and training for current or potential employees.

Senator Gordon, who chairs the bipartisan Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, and Senator Oroho, who serves on the panel, noted that the McKinsey & Company report, “Reseeding the Garden State’s Economic Growth: A Vision for New Jersey,” specifically cited the shortage of middle-skilled workers with technical training as one of the main barriers to the state’s economic growth.