Education is the Foundation of Success
As a former educator, providing students with the resources to succeed has been a priority of Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. During the past five years, he has transformed the Essex County Schools of Technology District through an ambitious program to modernize and expand its school facilities. He also has partnered with Essex County College to begin the construction of a new campus in West Caldwell.
Providing a modern school for students attending the Essex County Schools of Technology was talked about for 40 years. However, it was not until an innovative partnership between the State and Essex County that the new 320,000-square-foot Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology was built and opened in June 2018. The State is paying for 90 percent of the costs for acquisition, design and construction, while the school district will pay the remaining 10 percent by selling the two antiquated schools that is closed – North 13th Street School built in 1928 and Bloomfield Tech built in 1930.
The Payne School has traditional classrooms for core curriculum subjects such as history, English, mathematics and science as well as specially designed spaces for career training classes including culinary arts, carpentry, plumbing and electrical systems, and cosmetology as well as emerging professions such as green energy and agricultural science, engineering, information technology, television and radio, cyber security, graphic design and public safety. For example, the building trades share a two-story, common learning area. The unique setting will enable the students to simulate a major construction project, learn how the trades interact and provide ample space for larger projects. The culinary arts area includes traditional kitchen space, but also a restaurant area and storefront where the public can sample students’ creations. Students studying green energy have access to a “green” roof, solar panels and greenhouse.
Once the Payne School opened, DiVincenzo turned his attention onto Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology, which opened in September 2021. That school building received a two-story addition and complete interior renovation. Improvements include a new Career and Technical Education Construction Lab, Greenhouse and Agricultural Science Lab, Media Center, eight new classrooms for math and four for language arts, an enhanced Music Production facility and an expanded cafeteria. The $30 million project is funded through a similar agreement with the State paying for 90 percent and the school district paying for 10 percent of the costs.
Essex County Newark Tech is currently undergoing a complete renovation and expansion that includes the construction of three-story, 16,500-foot addition that will house a new cafeteria, media center and entrance plaza. Interior work will be done to accommodate a second Technology Enhanced Active Learning Center, new physics labs and general upgrades to other classrooms. This $45 million project is funded through a similar agreement with the State paying for 90 percent and the school district paying for 10 percent of the costs. Previous upgrades at Newark Tech that will be maintained include a new multi-purpose facility/gymnasium that was opened in 2007 and the first Technology Enhanced Active Learning Center that was opened in 2013.
This investment in education has shown dividends, with the schools regularly earning spots on U.S. New and World Reports high achieving schools lists and the district receiving four National Blue Ribbon Awards, which is the gold standard for recognizing student achievement. Bloomfield Tech received Blue Ribbon Awards in 2009 and 2015, Newark Tech received its first Blue Ribbon Award in 2015 and West Caldwell Tech received its first in 2012.
In addition, DiVincenzo is partnering with Essex County College to replace the 1920s elementary school utilized by the college as a satellite campus with a modern 51,r700-square-foot building. Demolition of the old building started in September 2021; construction of the new facility will start in early 2022. DiVincenzo also has supported the College by transferring current savings from the County’s budget to the college to assist with operating expenses, has increased the County’s annual contribution to fund the college and was instrumental several years ago in helping ECC receive about $20 million in state grants to fund various facility improvements.
Other educational initiatives undertaken by DiVincenzo are instituting a full-school day at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center so residents there can continue to work toward earning their high school diplomas and opening the Youth Resource Center at the County’s Job Development Site so at-risk youth can have access to educational or training programs to help them return to school or enter the workforce. Essex County also offers a comprehensive re-entry program at the Essex County Correctional Facility which helps inmates who are about to be released work toward receiving their high school equivalency degree.