The Authority Helps Fund School Expansion

Groundbreaking was held recently for the Charles F. Seabrook School expansion in Upper Deerfield Township. Through this project, the Board of Education of Upper Deerfield will add 18,850 square feet to the school, including 12 new pre-k classrooms and new resource rooms and amenities. 

The school is currently near capacity, and the expansion will alleviate overcrowding while opening additional, flexible classroom space that will be used to address future needs.

This $9 million expansion project was made possible through a unique financing structure that minimizes impact on local taxes. By demonstrating the need for this project, the Board of Education of Upper Deerfield obtained a $5 million grant from the State of New Jersey to fund the expansion, an amount far greater than is typical for classroom expansion projects. 

To address the remaining balance, the Board of Education and The Authority, with the support of Cumberland County, identified a creative solution by becoming the first project in the state to utilize a new provision in state law that allows school districts to partner with local improvement authorities to finance critical and required school facilities projects in an efficient and timely manner.

Through innovation, cooperation, and local advocacy, this much-needed project is now one step closer to fruition.