14 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO AND THE ESSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL BOARD DEDICATE THE MODERNIZED ESSEX COUNTY WEST CALDWELL SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY Vocational School Received a $30 Million Makeover with a New Two-Story Addition and Complete Renovation
Published on October 14, 2021
West Caldwell, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. dedicated the new Essex County Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology on Thursday, October 14th. The school received a $30 million makeover that included a new two-story addition and a complete renovation of the existing school building. The improvements brought the building up to date and created modern classrooms that complement the school’s curriculum. The event was originally scheduled in early September but was postponed because of Hurricane Ida.
“My goal as County Executive is to make sure our Schools of Technology have the resources and modern buildings needed to prepare our students for their future. The West Caldwell Tech building had served students for more than half a century, but it was time to update the facility to ensure the classrooms complemented the changing curriculum,” DiVincenzo said. “Thank you to Governor Murphy for sharing our goals of providing modern facilities for our students and partnering with the school district and county to see this project through,” he added.
The new facility received rave reviews from local officials, educators and students.
“Facilities are intricately involved in the quality of education received by our students and the Count Executive is making sure the district has the right resources for its students,” NJ State Senator and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.
“Watching the students makes our jobs easier because we are able to see the benefits of our work. This is a great facility where our students can learn and grow,” NJ Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin said.
“I can’t believe that where we are gathered today to celebrate this new modern school was once a factory. I think this is fantastic for the students,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said.
“What a beautiful facility and what a great day for the West Caldwell community. As I watch the students here today, I see how bright our future will be,” West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta said.
“The County Executive only gives us one directive: help our students succeed. Because of Joe, we have the modern school buildings to teach them in,” Essex County Schools of Technology Superintendent James Pedersen said.
“Once again, the County Executive has made good another promise – this one to modernize the school in West Caldwell. Joe has proven that he truly is ‘Putting Essex County and its Students First,’ “ Essex County School of Technology Board of Education Vice President Adrianne Davis said.
“With all the challenges our students have faced over the past 18 months due to the pandemic, the opening of this school could not have come at a better time. This has given our students purpose and it’s heartwarming for me to see our students back in school,” Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology Principal Ayisha Ingram-Robinson said.
“I am in awe of what I see here, both in terms of the modern school building and the students attending this school,” Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said.
“The seniors this year have already experienced the joy of walking through these new halls, the bright lights drawing us in, making us excited to learn. Personally, I am most enjoying this new building’s updated vocational spaces,” senior Azjhane Jean Paul said.
“We have waited two long years to return to this campus. When I first came to this school, it was completely different and, compared to other schools, outdated. Now we have a completely new building and I am so grateful that we can explore this school together,” senior Ethan Figueroa said.
The construction project included building a two-story addition onto the front of the school, renovating existing space to accommodate current and new curriculum, and creating an outdoor courtyard that could be used as an outdoor classroom for environmentally themed classes. Included among the improvements are:
- A new Career & Technical Education Construction Lab
- A new Greenhouse and renovated space for the Agricultural Science CTE Lab
- An outdoor courtyard that will be used by the Agricultural Science program
- A new Media Center, which will be the first facility of its kind at the West Caldwell Campus
- Three Life Skills classrooms, two Community Living rooms and one Retail Classroom for special services students
- A renovated cosmetology facility with an adjoining classroom for academic instruction
- A renovated cafeteria seating for 135 students and new kitchen facilities
- Renovations to the culinary and baking CTE Labs
- Updated accommodations for school administrative offices
- Eight new classrooms in the new addition for math and four language arts classes
- A new weight room for physical education class and athletics
- A new aerobics/dance room for physical education and the performing arts program
- An enhanced Music Production facility
- Enhanced security measures to monitor the interior and exterior of the facility
DiCara, Rubino Architects from Wayne received a $1,790,000 contract to design the improvements to the West Caldwell campus. Dobco, Inc. from Wayne was awarded a publicly bid contract for $29,855,000 to perform the construction work. Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc. from Lawrenceville was awarded a $840,855 contract to provide construction management services to ensure delays were avoided. Promatech from Moorestown, N.J., was awarded an $81,300 contract to perform contract monitoring and compliance. The school improvement project was funded through the Essex County Vocational Technical Schools’ Capital Budget with 90 percent of the costs being reimbursed by the State of New Jersey. The school was ready to be reopened for classes in February 2020, however Essex County utilized the building for one of its COVID-19 vaccination centers.
West Caldwell Tech is the second school improvement project to be completed in the Essex County School of Technology District. Construction of the Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology started in 2016 and lasted two years, with the school opening in 2018 at a cost of about $102 million. The project to expand and modernize the Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology started once the Payne School was completed. With West Caldwell Tech no completed, the $30 million expansion and modernization of Essex County Newark Tech in Newark was started in June 2021. Newark Tech is scheduled to welcome students back in September 2022.
The Essex County Vocational Technical School District is New Jersey’s first and one of its largest Vocational Technical School Systems. Created in 1914, the school system provides both occupational and academic instruction for high school and adult students in Essex County. The district has three high schools: Donald Payne Sr. School, Newark Tech and West Caldwell Tech. In addition, the system provides adult programs in the evening at its Adult Training Center at Newark Tech. The district has an enrollment of approximately 2,200 students and provides high level state-of-the-art career skill development and academic opportunities in over 25 occupational areas. For more information on Essex County’s Vocational Technical Schools, visit www.essextech.org.