With the finishing touches of spackle, paint and tile going up at West New York’s new Public School No. 4, West New York administrators and officials from the state’s School Construction Corporation took their first look at the newest addition to the school district.
The school is expected to open in September.
The new state-of-the-art facility will replace the original School No. 4, which currently houses students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
The new school will house 705 students from pre-k through 6th grade, and the 7th and 8th grades will join the middle school.
“[Everyone] did great work and the district seems to be pleased with it, which is the important thing,” said Jerry Murphy, president of the SCC. “The telling sign will be the faces on the kids, which makes it all worth it. That is why we build these schools.”
“It’s a beautiful building and it shows you what a school should look like in the 21st century,” said Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega. “My commitment [to West New York] will be to get these new facilities built and maintain all the buildings we have been given in a way we can be proud of.”
Located at 317 66th St., School No. 4 is West New York’s second completed school construction project in collaboration with the SCC.
School of the 21st century
Construction for the school began in January of 2005 and is expected to be completed by April.
Demolition is also underway for the adjacent playground and additional parking area, which should be completed by July.
“This project started with the district and their vision,” said Murphy, who makes several trips throughout the year to different districts under construction.
“West New York has been great to deal with,” said Murphy. “From the mayor and the [members] of the City Council to the Assembly and the Senate have all been partners in this process to build 21st century schools, and hopefully, we will continue to build here in West New York and in the state of New Jersey.”
The 126,325 square-foot facility, which includes an underground parking facility and three floors of classroom space, features an art room, music room, a technology lab, two science labs, and family and consumer science rooms.
The school also includes a cafeteria, a 300-seat auditorium with aisle lighting, two computer rooms, a gymnasium, six small group instruction rooms, occupational therapy rooms, and media and reading centers.
“I think that the school is beautiful and our children will make great use of it,” said Dr. Robert Van Zantan, superintendent of schools. “It’s a wide open space environment and the technology is right up there with what we will need for the future.”
Managing the project was the Turner Construction Company, working alongside design consultant Vitetta Architects and general contractor Prismatic Development Corporation.
Job well done
“I would like to thank my predecessor Mayor Albio Sires for starting this concept, and my challenge as mayor now and in the future is to take that dream to reality,” said Vega. “The children of West New York will have the best possible future and the teachers will have the best environment [in which to work].”
“What this gives our kids is a chance to be on an equal level as the rest of the children in New Jersey,” said Van Zantan. “Many of the kids in West New York really go on to do well in college and their careers, which is really thanks to the staff and teachers. It’s great that now we have a facility that is equal to that.”
Also at the tour was Richard Tedesco, president of the Board of Education and graduate of the school’s class of 1945.
Tedesco was very impressed with the new facility, but he had a suggestion.
“I think they should name the building after me, or at least the gym,” he joked.
Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the existing school, which will be closing at the end of this school year.
The city has not yet decided what will be done with the vacated building. Jessica Rosero can be reached at jrosero@hudsonreporter.com