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Learning Center Opens At County Juvenile Detention Center
 | | The Ribbon cutting marks the grand opening of an education center. Pictured cutting the ribbon are Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, Freeholder Gerry P. Little, William P. Hoey Jr. and Robert Coughlin. |
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TOMS RIVER - Citing education as a key component to a productive life and a successful future, Ocean County officials joined with staff and members of the law enforcement community to officially open a new learning center at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.
"The Ocean County Juvenile Services Department is here to help at risk youth develop into more secure individuals, to promote positive changes in their personal development and remain productive and socially adjusted members of the community," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who also serves as Director of Law and Public Safety. "This new center will help to further that mission."
Joining with Kelly in cutting a ribbon signifying the completion of work and the grand opening of the facility was Robert Coughlin, director of the Ocean County Department of Juvenile Services, William P. Hoey Jr., superintendent of the Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools, Freeholder Gerry P. Little and members of the center staff.
Gone are the trailers that were located there. They have been replaced with a new education center.
The $2.4 million addition at the Sunset Avenue facility is 8,900-square feet of new space that houses four classrooms, a library, multipurpose room and other amenities.
Coughlin noted that one of the benefits of the new addition is the youths now go directly into the new education center from the juvenile detention center.
"They no longer leave the building to get to the trailers that once housed the classrooms," Coughlin said.
Work on the new education center began in June 2006 and was completed on schedule coinciding with the beginning of a new school year.
Schooling at the detention center runs year-round and is supported by the Ocean County Vocational Technical School system.
"The vo-tech school district has done an outstanding job in providing these youths with a quality education while they are housed at the center," Coughlin said. "Education plays an integral role in getting these youngsters back into the community and helping them to adjust."
The new center provides space for additional programs that are required by the state and others that will help in the rehabilitation of the youths attending class here.
"The changes we have made here will allow for an atmosphere more conducive to education than what we had," Kelly said. "The education center will provide needed learning experiences, help with anger management and assistance for the substance abuser."
The contractor for the project is Patterson Mechanical Contracting, Ocean Township. The construction manager is the McCloud Group, Hoboken and the architect is Yezzi Associates of Toms River.
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