School Construction Projects
Summit Public Schools
Construction is expected to begin at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Summit High School through the Summit Public School District’s initiative, Investing in our Future. The $37 million dollar initiative approved by the Summit Board of Education, Summit Board of School Estimate, Summit Common Council, and New Jersey Department of Education will allow the District to create state-of-the-art spaces for Middle and High School students who will benefit from innovative learning experiences related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). It will also allow the District to tackle long standing facility upgrades, such as installing air conditioning at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School.
“Members of the administrative team have been working on this student-centered initiative for over a year and a half, and it is so exciting to see Investing in our Future coming to life at Summit Public Schools,” said Scott Hough, Superintendent of Summit Public Schools. “With the expansion of course offerings made possible by additional learning spaces at the Middle and High School, we are able to build and foster curiosity and excitement among students at a younger age, and then develop those passions through meaningful pathways of learning at the High School level. All of us in the District are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for our students because of the hard work and support of the entire Summit community.”
Summit residents will begin to notice construction at the Middle School related to electrical site work in mid-to-late August, but the District is still in the process of receiving a tentative construction timeline for the beginning phases of the Library Media Center expansion at Summit High School. Additional construction anticipated to begin during the 2023-2024 school year includes HVAC and new classrooms at the Middle School, and the lower field at Summit High School. The District does not anticipate beginning construction on the other projects under the Investing in our Future initiative until the 2024-2025 school year.
“While we strive to communicate in a transparent and proactive manner, this process is going to be fluid and some timelines may change based on a variety of factors,” Superintendent Hough added. “We will continue to share updates on our website, and communicate directly with our Summit families and community members. We ask for your patience and understanding, and hope you join us in our excitement as we continue to invest in the future of Summit students.”
In addition to HVAC, projects at the Middle School include brand new innovation labs, an addition of a wellness center, enhancements to the main lobby entrance, and a new cafeteria. Projects at Summit High School include renovating the Library Media Center to include a second floor of state-of-the-art STEAM labs, as well as renovating the Chorus and Drama classrooms to include a Dance/Theater room. With the enhanced and expanded facilities, new STEAM courses will be developed and offered to students at the Middle and High School. Additional enhancements across the District include replacing windows at Brayton Elementary School, renovating Tatlock Field House, converting the High School lower field into a multi-use turf field, and renovating the Middle School athletic field.
