Millville planners get look at high school expansion

MILLVILLE – Schematic designs submitted to New Jersey for a proposed $110 million Millville Senior High School expansion were laid out before city planners Monday night.

Bryce Kell, business administrator for the school district, hit the project’s highlights and took questions from Planning Board officials. Local approvals are not needed for state school projects, but giving local planners a chance to look, discuss and make recommendations is a traditional courtesy.

The N.J. Schools Development Authority forwarded the designs in late February to the city.

More: Change needed in Millville High School expansion design

On completion, the district will be able to consolidate at the senior high all freshman classes and those sophomore classes now in Memorial High School. Construction’s start is tentative for spring 2017.

The senior high would remain open during the phased construction activity. Additional space will allow the student population to increase from 1,200 now, approximately, to about 2,300.

Kell said the finished school shouldn’t need much more parking for students, since freshman and sophomores are too young to drive.

Kell said the project will improve security. At present, students move around outside among other reasons because trailers are used for some classes.

“They try to keep security out there as much as possible,” Kell said. “This new complex will have a totally closed campus. So it’ll only be available with card access or badge.”

Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com