New Jersey legislators want better explanation of funding decision

From NewJerseynewsroom.com: An explanation by the CEO of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) to the Assembly Education Committee on how the agency selected 10 school construction projects out of 100 applications did not satisfy the panel’s Democratic members. Marc Larkins, the CEO, says a work group of SDA and Education Department staffers gave the proposed projects a thorough review and developed the ranking system. But Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman says the legislators were given no clear explanation as to how the administration chose which school construction projects to support. FEBRUARY 2011...from The Newark Star-Ledger: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will announce approval of $584 million for the construction or renovation of 10 schools through the Schools Development Authority. The projects in the state’s poorest districts will range from new schools to site improvements and will include an additional $100 million for emergencies, like broken ceilings or heating systems. The agreement to construct or renovate 10 schools is far fewer than the 51 projects that had been approved before Christie took office and shelved by the governor last year.