School construction spending questioned in New Jersey

In Paterson, N.J., School No. 3 is so short on space that speech and music lessons are given in a converted coatroom and the “library” has been pared down to just one shelf of books. Nearly half the 430 elementary students eat lunch at their desks because there is no room in the cafeteria. Officials at the school were elated this summer when a $3.9 billion plan for school construction included a replacement building for School No. 3. But some legislators and residents are upset about spending so much during an economic downturn.