Elizabeth Bets Big On $96 Million School Project, But Will It Deliver On Equity?

ELIZABETH, N.J. — The demolition of the century-old Battin School this summer marks the end of an era in Elizabeth and the beginning of a $96 million gamble on the future of public education in the city.

Families acknowledge the old facility was crumbling and overcrowded, but several expressed doubts that the district’s investment will deliver smaller class sizes or more equitable resources.

Parents like Sandra Martinez, whose two children will eventually attend the new school, said the change was overdue. 

“Battin was falling apart. The classrooms were too crowded, the heat barely worked, and the kids didn’t have enough books,” Martinez said. “I want my kids to walk into a school where they feel valued.”

The new PreK–8 complex is being built on Battin’s site, with construction overseen by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Officials say the school will feature state-of-the-art technology, flexible classrooms, and shared spaces designed to encourage collaboration. 

Early site preparation was completed this summer, and in July the SDA approved a design-build award to Terminal Construction. Procurement for a construction management firm was advertised on June 30, and the school is slated to open in 2027.

“This project is an investment in Elizabeth’s children and their future,” SDA CEO Manuel Da Silva said when demolition began. He emphasized that the new facility is intended to ease the district’s persistent overcrowding, which has left some students learning in makeshift spaces.

But skepticism among parents lingers. Marcus Reynolds, a longtime Elizabeth resident, said that “A shiny new school doesn’t guarantee smaller class sizes or equitable access.”

“We’ve seen projects like this before where the structure is impressive, but the resources inside aren’t distributed fairly. The real question is whether this will shift the experience for Black and brown students who’ve been underserved for generations.”

Other parents echoed those concerns, noting that one building alone may not solve overcrowding across the district. Some said the critical test will come after the ribbon cutting, when families see whether the promises translate into stronger instruction and equitable access to technology.

“I’m glad the kids will finally have a modern building, but what I really care about is what happens inside the classroom,” said Jamal Price, a father of three in Elizabeth. “If my children still end up in classes with 30 kids and not enough teachers, then all the fancy new walls won’t mean much.”

Elizabeth Board of Education President Stanley Neron did not immediately respond to a request for comment about parents’ concerns. For now, families are watching as the steel beams rise, hopeful but cautious. Many agree the new Battin represents a long-overdue investment, but whether it delivers on equity remains to be seen.

“This could be the turning point for our kids,” Martinez said. “Or it could just be another building. Time will tell.”