Murphy joins Hudson County officials in Secaucus to cut the ribbon on new tech school

Gov. Phil Murphy, along with New Jersey Education Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet, made the trek to Secaucus to cut the ribbon on the county’s new tech school this afternoon. 

“Students in New Jersey deserve an educational experience that will nurture their creative ideas and challenge them to succeed,” said Murphy.

“Whether it be teenagers studying computer science and performing arts for the first time or young adults going back to school to earn their high school diploma, this new campus will provide generations of Hudson County students with a cutting edge public education.”

The Frank J. Gargiulo Campus is a $160 million project that received more than half of its funding from the New Jersey Department of Education.

“In order to grow our economy, we have to invest in our homegrown work force. One way to do that is to invest in our schools: particularly our vocational and technical schools,” Repollet said.

The brand new state-of-the art facility is home to High Tech High School, KAS Prep and Hudson Technical and features three levels of classrooms, an underground parking garage, a 340-seat theater, a gymnasium, and houses the district’s administrative offices.

“Two things on our agenda that we’d never ever say no to: first our veterans of the country and of course our students. Whatever our students need, if we can get a facility like this passed, nine freeholders? It’s a blessing,” said Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Anthony Vainieri (D-8).

The Frank J. Gargiulo Campus is eligible for a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating and features LED lights, green roofs and a Hydroponics Lab. Each classroom is keycard accessible and equipped with Smart Board technology.

WiFi is available throughout the entire campus and locked charging stations are installed for students to recharge their laptops and electronic devices.

“Our mission at the Hudson County Schools of Technology is to provide students with an innovative and progressive education,” added Acting Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez.

“The opening of the Frank J. Gargiulo Campus allows us to keep to our commitment in giving students a unique, hands-on experience as the strive for success in and out of the classroom.”

The new building has four dedicated wings for High Tech High School’s vocational academies: Culinary Arts, Design and Fabrication, Performing Arts, Tech/Visual Arts and Science Tech. Future plans for the campus include a partnership with Hudson County Community College and other HCST county-wide offerings.

HCST Board Secretary Joey Muniz served as the emcee.

The full video, which streamed live on our Facebook page, can be seen below: