Sixth graders Luciano and Roquya traveled the hallways of their new school building as if they’d been here all their lives rather than less than two weeks. Lucanio’s brother had gone to school in the building’s previous incarnation as a charter school, so he had some history to call on. But for Roquya, this was a new experience.
School started at the Hudson County Schools of Technology’s Explore 2000 Middle School just after Labor Day, but officials didn’t cut the ribbon until Thursday, Sept. 17.
The middle school has now expanded from a smaller location on Montgomery Street to include this new one on Ninth Street in downtown Jersey City. The new location will allow the student population in the program to grow from the slightly more than 50 students to possibly as many as 250.
Luciano and Roquya served as kind of tour guides, showing off the facility for guests who came for the ceremony.
“This new, beautiful building provides us with the space we need to expand to meet the needs of even more students.” – Amy Lin-Rodriguez
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Here, teachers are not teachers; they are “facilitators.” Students have more than one facilitator/teacher and travel from class to class.
While they had the building’s layout memorized, Luciano and Roquya were still learning their schedule, which they both believe they’ll have worked out as the school year gets into full swing.
Unique kind of school
Explore 2000 is a unique kind of middle school. It had been a school within the Jersey City campus of the Hudson County Schools of Technology on Montgomery Street that uses a project-based method of education. HCST is a group of county-run public schools open to students who apply from throughout the county. They also run the competitive High Tech High School in North Bergen.
In Explore 2000, students learn Core Curriculum subjects by developing projects and through intense study of a particular subject, such as the environmental impact of pollution, or how the human body works.
Luciano and Roquya, however, say what interests them most are the technology labs that will feature prominently in their education.
Frank Gargulo, superintendent of the Hudson County Schools of Technology, said the middle school is designed to provide a pathway to careers that do not require college, but hinge upon students learning how to use technology.
Mike Forenza, a technical service technician, showed off some of the contemporary devices students would be using, such as a 3-D printer, a laser cutter, and other machinery.
Forenza, who has his degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, said that these are the basic tools in the evolving technology field. While they are not as sophisticated as those found in places such as Stevens, the machines at the middle school will provide students with what they need to move onto the next level of education.
More space, more students
Although located at180 Ninth St. in Jersey City, the new middle school becomes a stepping stone for students from around Hudson County who may wish to apply to High Tech High later. Officials said that represents a continued cooperative partnership between the Hudson County Schools of Technology, the city of Jersey City, and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. The new site allows the county school to become part of a cluster of schools in that area, and Hamilton Park only a few blocks away gives the area a campus-like feel.
“This is about technology and science and will prepare students for careers in the tech field,” DeGise said, noting that this move comes ahead of plans for the county to begin building a new building for High Tech High in Secaucus.
Gargulo said the county will then retain three campuses: this one, the Montgomery street facility, the Secaucus high school. The North Bergen facility will be closed except for a parking lot for school buses.
“By moving the middle school to this location, they will have space enough to prepare for tech education at the high school, and later beyond,” Gargulo said. “This is about providing training for jobs in the 21st century, and provides the basis that they will later take to high school and eventually into careers.”
The building was originally opened as a community center and school. DeGise was on the City Council when it first opened in 1999.
State Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, who has worked as a tradesman and inspector in his private life, said he was concerned about providing students with options other than college. Schools of technology and vocational high school provide kids with skills they need for other, often extremely high-paying careers, he said.
Still, many students who attend High Tech High School do go on to top colleges, and some study the arts or theater.
A great opportunity
Principal Amy Lin-Rodriguez beamed with excitement at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Fifteen years ago, when I began my Hudson County career as a facilitator in this middle school, I never would have imagined I would be standing before you today, in our own facility, and as the principal of this amazing program,” she said. “This new, beautiful building provides us with the space we need to expand to meet the needs of even more students. It’s no secret we foster academic freedom. Having our own building further enables our school to grow without the constraints of another program.”
“It gives the students, staff and community a sense of ownership and privilege,” she said. “As we undergo these great changes, we strive to maintain the heart of our program, a place where students take charge of their learning and leave Explore fully prepared for high school with a solid foundation of character, academics and 21st century skills.”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.