New Jersey Middle School's Beam Signing Marks Progress

Signatures written in paint marker will soon disappear inside the walls of George G. White Middle School, but they could remain there for 100 years.

Current and former school board members, administrators, and community leaders gathered at the construction site in Hillsdale, New Jersey, on July 24 to sign one of the final steel beams for the school's new addition. The traditional beam signing ceremony marked a visible turning point in the renovation of the century-old building.

Board President Kevin Donatello was first to sign, followed by fellow trustees, former board members, Superintendent Robert Lombardy, and Principal Jaclyn Derwin. Each person who helped advance the project through planning, referendums, and construction added their name to the steel.

"Everybody had a hand in this," Lombardy said. "Your name deserves to be on there. It'll be with the building for a very long time."

The beam will be hoisted near the roof of the new construction and enclosed within the completed building. It represents years of community effort and planning to modernize the school while preserving it as a neighborhood anchor.

The renovation stems from a $62.4 million bond referendum that Hillsdale voters approved in September 2024. The project includes six new classrooms, a multipurpose room, and two additional teaching spaces.

Construction is advancing on multiple fronts. Workers are erecting structural steel for the new addition while continuing selective demolition inside the existing building. The school gymnasium is being prepared for full use when classes resume, hosting lunch periods, physical education, and after-school athletics.

The Ripple Effect

The project represents more than new classrooms and fresh paint. Students currently learning in temporary modular buildings across the street will soon return to an updated, expanded school designed to serve generations.

The renovation preserves a century-old community institution while equipping it for modern education. Parents, teachers, and students who walk these halls decades from now will benefit from the vision and commitment of today's community leaders.

The district is working toward opening the renovated building for the 2027-28 school year, with substantial completion expected by August 2027.

"I'm just excited to see the renovation and the new work take place, and for this to be a great home for kids for the next 100 years," Lombardy said after the signing.