By: Richard L. Smith
In an impressive grant writing and business collaboration feat, Irvington Township's school district in New Jersey has been awarded a significant grant of $7.5M for comprehensive upgrades across its 13 schools.
School Superintendent Dr. April Vauss proudly announced this accomplishment, marking it a milestone in the district's continuous efforts to enhance educational facilities and services. This grant is one of several large-scale funding projects planned to support the township's schools over the coming years.
Irvington Township is the only school in N.J. to receive this grant among nearly two dozen schools in America. Siemens Industry, PSE&G, and the Goode Education Group will be assisting Irvington School officials in preparing the grant application.
Township officials told RLS Media that The Goode Education Group and T3 Creators Collective, LLC will be assisting with the required workforce development endeavor that the grant requires.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently launched the $500 million Renew America's Schools Program, which aims to promote clean energy improvements in K-12 public schools nationwide.
This unprecedented investment, made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, seeks to decrease energy use and costs, improve indoor air quality, and create healthier learning environments for students.
Irvington Public School (IPS) District, situated in the Township of Irvington, NJ, has been identified as an Adversely Stressed/Overburdened Community (AS/OBC) under the Environmental Justice Law.
U.S. Department of Energy Officials said this designation highlights the district's need for support, given that at least 30% of its population lives in poverty, at least 40% of residents are minorities, and at least 40% of households have limited English proficiency.
The grant will cover all 13 schools in the district, addressing critical projects and deferred maintenance needs. The district plans to supplement DOE funding with 0% financing through the PSEG Engineered Solutions Program, which utilizes measured and verified energy cost savings over a 60-month repayment term.
Furthermore, the Office of State and Community Energy Programs IPS will collaborate with the N.J. Department of Labor and local colleges to enhance project outcomes.
The Renew America's Schools Program released its first round of funding in 2022, followed by the second round in March 2024, encouraging school districts nationwide to invest in energy infrastructure.
This initiative aims to facilitate planning, financing, and implementation of energy upgrades in K-12 schools.
IPS is dedicated to fostering community engagement and supporting workforce development through partnerships with local businesses, non-profits, and educational organizations. These collaborations focus on improving academic outcomes and providing career pathways for students and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The district plans to use this project to create new career opportunities in energy efficiency, clean energy, artificial intelligence (A.I.), and industrial manufacturing.
IPS will expand its CTE Engineering Pathway to integrate clean energy and sustainability into the curriculum and promote environmental stewardship through community workshops.
IPS maintains advisory councils with representatives from local businesses, labor unions, and community organizations and prioritizes contracting with minority, women, veteran, and disability-owned business enterprises.
Additionally, IPS will partner with high-quality pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs to facilitate career-track training and employment opportunities in the clean energy sector for underrepresented workers.
To date, the Renew America's Schools Program has invested $373 million in public school districts across the United States, supporting energy management initiatives and improvement projects at approximately 410 facilities in 36 states, benefiting around 197,000 students and 14,000 teachers.