Commission to produce report cards on state of schools work.

The New Jersey General Assembly has passed legislation to create a School Construction Review Commission that would report to the Governor and Legislature on the status of public school construction projects statewide.

Under the bill, membership on the School Construction Review Commission would of consist the Commissioner of Education, the chief executive officer of the NJ Schools Construction Corporation, the state Treasurer, the chairman and vice-chairman of the Legislature's Joint Committee on the Public Schools, and local officials representing municipalities where the SCC has undertaken a facilities project.

In its first year, the commission would present two reports--each covering a six-month period--to the Governor and Legislature about the status each public school district's long-range facilities plan. Those reports also would include information about costs of each approved project, their respective compliance with cost guidelines, administrative costs incurred for state-constructed projects compared to similar costs for locally-managed projects, and total state administrative costs to date.

After one year, the Legislature could consider making the commission a permanent oversight body.

The commission also would be charged with finding ways to improve efficiency in school construction to mitigate costs associated with building delays or inclusion of costly items. In addition, the commission would determine the adequacy of state funds to meet the costs of projects listed in the long-range facilities plans of school districts.

The bill now heads to the Acting Governor.