Legislator pushes bill to overhaul school corp Saturday, February 10, 2007 • BY JOE DONOHUE • Star-Ledger Staff A leading Assembly Democrat said yesterday he will soon introduce legislation to abolish the beleaguered Schools Construction Corp. and rebuild it as a new, more accountable agency within the state Treasury Department. Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo (D-Essex) said his legislation would carry out reforms recommended by a Corzine administration task force last September to help the state's school-building program regain the trust of the Legislature and the public. "It's time for us to come in and finish the job," said Caraballo, who is speaker pro tem in the Democrat-controlled Assembly. Caraballo, who said he might introduce his bill as early as next week, announced his plans the same week SCC officials began efforts to convince lawmakers to let the agency borrow up to $3.25 billion to finance another round of school construction. The lawmaker said his bill would not address the funding issue. The bill would keep the existing staff at the agency, which is budgeted at 323 positions. It does not suggest what the new agency should be called. The 6-year-old SCC has been undergoing an overhaul in the wake of revelations that poor management led to costly overruns during its earlier years. Gov. Jon Corzine began the process last year by naming one-time state Cabinet member Scott Weiner as the new chief executive officer of the SCC and ordering other changes. Last fall, an administration advisory panel went further, recommending a transfer of the SCC from the state Economic Development Authority to the Treasury Department, closer involvement of school districts in projects, and the ability to freeze local land-use decisions once the agency decides it needs to buy a particular site. Caraballo said those broader reforms are necessary to convince the public that professionals, not politicians, are running the critically needed program. "I don't care where you live, in Cape May or High Point, or anywhere in between, we know our kids are not being educated in proper facilities," Caraballo said. Weiner said "there has been enormous change" at the agency, noting that nearly all the senior management and many employees have changed in recent months. He said he is "certainly encouraged" by Caraballo's legislative support for reconstituting the agency. Joe Donohue may be contacted at jdonohue@starledger.com or (609) 989-0208. © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.