Press Releases

Christie Administration Officials Celebrate Construction Progress of New School with Beam Signing Event in Newark

[NEWARK, NJ] New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) CEO Charles McKenna joined Newark students and local officials for a “beam signing” ceremony to highlight the progress of construction on the new South Street Elementary School. The ceremony celebrated the ongoing construction of the school by signing the steel beam that will be hoisted into place as a permanent part of the new facility.

“Today is a great opportunity to celebrate the construction of this new school with the Newark community,” said SDA CEO Charles McKenna. “As the children sign their names and make their mark on their new school, we are reminded that this building will help to provide a bright educational future for generations of Newark students.”

Located in the East Ward, the new South Street Elementary School will be an approximately 103,000 square foot facility designed to accommodate 657 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. The project includes a separate parking area adjacent to the new facility. Once complete, the school will include 29 general classrooms, two science labs, six small group instruction rooms, a computer/technology lab, a world languages classroom, instrumental and vocal music rooms, an art room, a media center, a multipurpose room with stage, a cafeteria and a gymnasium.

“I am thrilled to participate in today’s beam signing ceremony which represents all of the hard work by the Christie Administration, New Jersey Schools Development Authority and Newark community leaders to make the new South Street School a reality,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “Established over 130 years ago, South Street School is an integral part of our community. This new, state-of-the-art, 103,000 square foot facility will give South Street School students an opportunity to learn in an inspiring and nurturing learning environment that will positively impact future generations.”

The school is being built using the design-build approach. This method differs from the traditional approach in that SDA contracts with one firm for both design and construction of a school facilities project. Ernest Bock & Sons, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA is the design-build contractor, working in partnership with SSP Architectural Group of Bridgewater, New Jersey on the design. The project is being managed by STV Construction of New York. Total estimated project costs are $69.9 million.

To date, the SDA has invested more than $679 million in completed projects in Newark alone, including seven new schools. This includes the Oliver Street School and Elliott Street School, which both opened to students in 2016. The SDA’s current portfolio of active projects is valued at approximately $2 billion – including the Capital Project portfolio, emergent projects and Regular Operating District grants.

Newark Public Schools Students Raise $6,000 to Attend Global Science Conference in San Francisco

Malcolm X Shabazz’s Biogeochemistry Team presented their research at the American Geophysical Union Fall Conference, the largest earth and space science meeting in the world

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Malcolm X Shabazz students prepare for their trip to the AGU Conference in San Francisco (left) and stand in front of their science poster at the conference (right).

[Newark, NJ - December 21, 2016] Newark Public Schools’ (NPS) Malcolm X Shabazz High School’s Biogeochemistry team traveled from Newark to San Francisco last week to present their primary field research at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Conference, the largest earth and space science meeting in the world. Students raised $6,000 through a GoFundMe fundraising campaign which enabled eight students and three chaperones to attend the global conference.

The students presented a poster of field studies by the Malcolm X Shabazz Biogeochemistry Team, led by student Kim Boerrigter, which was accepted into the Bright STaRS program at the AGU Fall Conference. Over the past four years, the Malcolm X Shabazz Biogeochemistry Team has been working in close collaboration with Dr. Andrew D. Steen, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, performing cutting-edge enzyme research. Dr. Steen is publishing a manuscript in a science journal largely based on data compiled by the Newark students. This collaboration is particularly noteworthy because of the novel data collection and research that students are conducting. According to Dr. Steen, measurements like the ones Newark students were collecting had never been made before in the environment they are working in.

“After four years of rigorous research, the Malcolm X Shabazz Biogeochemistry Team is seeing all of their hard work and determination pay off.” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. “I am so proud of the team for representing Newark at the American Geophysical Union Fall Conference, and I am not surprised to see that the team had such an outpouring of support from the community. These students have a bright future ahead of them and are showing all of their friends and peers how exciting the science, technology, engineering and math fields can be.”

After her poster to the Bright STaRS program was approved, Kim Boerrigter began to work with her Malcolm X Shabazz High School math teacher Patrick Murray to identify funding for the trip. Kim and Mr. Murray started a GoFundMe page and eventually received nearly 100 donations from peers, family members and even Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. The funds helped cover hotel rooms, airfare, transportation, meals and other expenses for the students.

Malcolm X Shabazz High School is a comprehensive high school in Newark’s South Ward. The school has approximately 600 students, about 90 percent of whom qualify for Free or Reduced Price Lunch. Team member Kim wrote on the GoFundMe page, “This is huge for us. We are a Title I school with very limited resources. As far as any of us knows, no Newark Public School has ever done anything even close to something like this. We really don't have STEM-oriented role models outside of a few teachers who have gone above and beyond to give us an opportunity to shine.”

In addition to attending and participating in the conference, students also had the opportunity to participate in several STEM-related visits with Bay Area organizations and companies. They started with a visit to the microbiology labs at Stanford University followed by a tour of the Facebook Campus, as well as the Hearsay Social offices where they got to see computer engineers and programmers in action.

“It was a totally awesome experience for everyone,” added Mr. Murray. “IT Engineers shared their personal experiences with students and offered their support. Students presented and defended their science to some of the leading professionals in the field at the AGU conference, and most importantly, they had the opportunity to participate in experiences throughout the week that allowed them to visualize themselves in these types of roles.”

For almost 50 years, the AGU Fall Conference has served as a platform for scientists to present cutting-edge research. The 2016 AGU Fall Conference was held at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco and 24,000 people attended. This year’s AGU conference keynote speaker was California Governor Jerry Brown, Jr.

The D.A.D. Network Hosts Holiday Toy Drive to Benefit Sick and Homeless Newark Children

Fatherhood initiative empowers men across Newark, strengthens families, and improves educational outcomes for children.

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The “Dads Care Toy Drive” provided holiday gifts to over 300 Newark children.

[Newark, NJ - December 20, 2016] Over one hundred community members and five organizations from across the City of Newark participated in The D.A.D. Network’s “Dads Care Toy Drive” from December 7 through the 16. The holiday toy drive, which was organized by The D.A.D. Network, a fatherhood initiative implemented through the Newark Public Schools (NPS) Head Start Program, consisted of a week-long gift collection, a gift wrapping party, and a gift distribution event. The gifts donated were for children ages 0-16.

“‘The Dads Care Toy Drive’ has been an excellent opportunity for Newark fathers, families, educators, community leaders, and organizations to come together to collectively brighten the holiday season for hundreds of children and families across our city,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “The D.A.D. Network understands the critical role fathers play in a child’s educational journey, and I applaud these role models for everything they are doing to make Newark a stronger community.”

The holiday toy drive took place at several NPS Head Start locations throughout Newark Public Schools. Fathers, male role models, parents/caregivers, NPS Staff, community members, and organizations were encouraged to donate one or more gifts for sick and homeless children living in Newark.

On Thursday, December 15, over 60 community members participated in an afternoon gift wrapping party at ‘Early Childhood School – South’ in Newark’s South Ward, and the gifts were then delivered to over 300 children across the city on Friday, December 16 and Monday, December 19. Deliveries were made to multiple sites, including: University Hospital, The Harmony House, and Beth Israel Hospital.

Community partner Wells Fargo Bank donated nearly 100 gifts and actively participated at the gift wrapping party and the toy distribution event. One Wells Fargo Bank customer was so thrilled with the collaboration that they personally donated $100 to support the effort.

“We are so thankful for all of the dedicated fathers who created this initiative and continued with it for another year in an even bigger way,” noted F. Nana Ofosu-Amaah, Executive Director of Newark’s Office of Early Childhood. “Particularly in the earliest stages of development, parents are such an integral component of their children’s success. We are excited to be able to support so many great fathers during this toy drive, and hope that our collective efforts will make the holidays a little brighter for a few Newark children.”

Established in 2015, the mission of The D.A.D. Network (Dads Are Dynamic) is to engage, empower, achieve, and promote excellence amongst men, families, schools, and communities across the City of Newark.

Newark Public Schools Announces New Labor Agreement with Local 68 International Union of Operating Engineers

Under new agreement, district’s custodians will receive increases based on effectiveness

[Newark, NJ – December 15, 2016] Newark Public Schools (NPS) announced that the district reached a new four-year labor agreement with the Local 68 International Union of Operating Engineers that implements a new annual evaluation practice and eliminates automatic step salary increases. The new contract with Local 68, which represents the district’s custodians, rewards highly effective and effective employees while providing a corrective action plan to support the growth of low-performing employees.

“The district is pleased to reach an agreement with Local 68 that creates evaluation standards for these valued employees based on performance rather than seniority,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “The collaborative spirit brought to the table by the leaders at Local 68 helped make this agreement possible. Rewarding our employees based on performance allows us to collectively create the best environment possible for our students.”

Performance-based pay ties a salary and step increase to an employee’s evaluation ratings rather than the traditional measurement of seniority. Newark Public Schools first utilized performance-based pay for teachers with the Newark Teachers Union in 2012, and classified support staff with the Local 617 Union in 2015 and Local 32 Union in 2016.

In addition to the compensation aspect, the district and union agreed on various other factors around work rules. “We are very pleased to announce this new agreement with the district’s custodians.” said NPS Chief Talent Officer Larisa Shambaugh. “The work that our facilities’ staff does to ensure our buildings are well-maintained and create a positive learning environment for students is incredibly important. Having a renewed contract hopefully serves to reinforce our commitment to the work they do.”

Newark Public Schools Participates in International Hour of Code for Computer Science Education Week

Over 30 schools across the district hold events to raise awareness about importance of computer science education


[Newark, NJ - December 13, 2016] Over 30 schools across the City of Newark last week came together to participate in the International Hour of Code for Computer Science Education Week and raise awareness about the importance of computer science education.

“At Newark Public Schools, we are making technology a central part of our curriculum and instruction in order to encourage and nurture our students’ interest in computer science and technology,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of Newark Public Schools (NPS). “Computer science and technology skills are integral to a student’s success in the classroom and will set them apart from their peers in today’s economy. Participating in the International Hour of Code Week is just another way to embrace technology and help our students prepare for college and a 21st century career.”

During hour-long sessions, students followed online tutorials guiding them through the basics of coding. Coding events took place throughout the week in various locations throughout the City of Newark and were led by local community members including employees from Audible’s Coding Club, The Idea Makers, Code for Newark and Valentine Global.

In addition to the hour of coding sessions that took place throughout the week, Mayor Ras Baraka participated in a live Twitter chat with students from West Side Campus and Technology High School where, using the hashtag #cultureshape, they discussed technology and how it impacts their lives now and in their future careers.

"Hour of Code gives our students an excellent opportunity to get involved in coding and to be exposed to careers in Computer Science,” noted Timothy Nellegar, Special Assistant for Technology at Newark Public Schools. “Our students were able to connect with Mayor Baraka and other leaders in the tech space over the course of this week to discuss careers and ways to get involved. The students learned about opportunities in the tech field right here in Newark that they may not have otherwise been exposed to."

International Hour of Code for Computer of Science Education Week is held annually in recognition of the birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, a computing pioneer. The grassroots campaign is supported by over 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide.

Over the past several years, NPS schools and teachers have worked extensively on embedding instructional technology into the classroom. These learning opportunities include a variety of online platforms, e-books, math and science simulations, Google Apps for Education, personalized learning software and assistive technologies. These technologies are creating opportunities for teachers to provide high quality, real-time feedback to students to facilitate rich discussions and create authentic demonstrations of learning in all subjects.

In All Newark Final, Weequahic High School Beats Out Malcolm X Shabazz for State Sectional Championship

Weequahic’s football team finishes undefeated season to take home first sectional championship in 10 years


[Newark, NJ - December 6, 2016] On Saturday, December 3, for the first time in the history of the New Jersey High School Championships, two football teams from Newark faced off for the title. Newark Public Schools (NPS) teams Weequahic High School and Malcolm X Shabazz met in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 final at Kean University's Alumni Stadium, where Weequahic prevailed 18 – 8 over their long-time rival. This was Weequahic’s fifth appearance in the sectional championships and their first title win since 2006.

“On behalf of Newark Public Schools, I want to congratulate both Weequahic High School and Malcolm X Shabazz on their successful football seasons. Our student athletes and their families should be proud of their remarkable achievements this year,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. “Making it to sectional championships is a major accomplishment, and this year, it happened to be historic. The fact that both teams competing for the title this year call Newark home is truly special and serves as an important reminder of how talented the young people are in our community.”

The victory, and the matchup in the game, was particularly noteworthy because of the historic and intense rivalry between the two teams. Weequahic and Shabazz meet every year on Thanksgiving in the “Soul Bowl” and played each other just one week prior to the final – with Weequahic prevailing in that game 22 – 8. Both victories capped off a great year for Weequahic, who finished their season with 12 wins and 0 losses.

“Our championship was built on a sense of family and sticking together,” said Brian Logan, head coach of the Weequahic High School Football team. “I am incredibly proud of our team for rallying around each other through the good and the bad times this season, and overcoming many obstacles to achieve this victory.”

In addition to Weequahic’s success, Malcolm X Shabazz had quite a year of its own. After winning only four games last year, Shabazz held an 8 – 3 record this year and stormed through the playoffs, winning their semifinal game 67 – 16.

“The New Jersey High School Championships was historic for the State of New Jersey and the City of Newark,” said Keith Veltre, Special Assistant in charge of Athletics for Newark Public Schools. “We are so proud of all of our players for such a strong showing at sectionals and for performing so well all season long. These coaches and players truly showed the state what Newark Football is all about.”