Public tours an improved Matawan Avenue School
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer

TOM CAIAZZA Assemblyman Sam Thompson and Sen. Joe Kyrillos accompanied Board of Education member Pat Demarest through a tour of the newly renovated Matawan Avenue Middle School Jan. 30.

ABERDEEN — With construction completed and the remnants of the Labor Day fire behind them, the Matawan-Aberdeen School District officially presented the newly renovated Matawan Avenue Middle School at a dedication ceremony on Jan. 30.

The event was attended by state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos and Assemblyman Samuel Thompson, both of the 13th District, along with members of the Matawan Borough Council and the Aberdeen Township Committee.

Hosted by Superintendent Bruce Quinn and the Matawan-Aberdeen Board of Education, the event spotlighted the efforts of many community members that brought the multimillion dollar project to fruition, and helped to assuage the disruption of the fire that caused more than $2 million in damage and resulted in months of lost time.

The ceremony consisted of remarks from Quinn, Thompson, Kyrillos and Board of Education President Cathy Zavorskas, as well as the contractors and architects involved. Performances from the MAMS Select Choir and Band livened the event, which was punctuated by student-guided tours of the new facility for dignitaries and the community.

“Mozart in Latin — that’s impressive,” Kyrillos said of a choral performance by MAMS students. “That means there are impressive things going on in this building.”

Kyrillos congratulated the Board of Education and the two towns for their foresight and leadership in being able to use state aid for building the new, state-of-the-art facility. The completed school is a testament to the good public government can accomplish, he said.

“This shows all of us the force for good government can be for a special purpose,” Kyrillos said.

Kyrillos said that taxpayers are apt to graciously support projects that have the ability to better the community as a whole.

“We realize and should realize that our neighbors don’t mind taxes and borrowing for the future when it goes to something like this,” Kyrillos said.

Thompson praised those involved for being able to raise the funds and completing what will be an asset to the school district and the towns.

“I would like to commend and congratulate the superintendent and the Board of Education for the foresight to act early,” Thompson said regarding the district taking advantage of state renovation funds that have since dried up. “You’ve done a tremendous job.”

The middle school project began in 2002 but was dealt a serious blow when a Labor Day 2004 fire resulted in more than $2 million in damages, and disrupted construction and student education for weeks. The fire was started by a then-12-year-old student, who has since been found guilty of aggravated arson and given three years of probation for his actions.

Eugenia Lawson, the Monmouth County schools superintendent, noted her pride in being on hand for the dedication, and put the fire into perspective.

“I am glad, pleased, and proud to be part of an historic moment,” Lawson said. “A setback is a setup for a comeback, and you, Matawan-Aberdeen, have come back in an awesome manner.”