To begin with, the two contracting firms picked as regional construction managers will each oversee about $50 million worth of projects in so-called Abbott districts, 30 school districts in which the New Jersey Supreme Court ordered the state to equalize opportunity with wealthier districts. For South Jersey, EDA has awarded the management contract to Gilbane Construction Co., whose Lawrenceville, NJ office will handle the project.

For North Jersey, meanwhile, EDA's board has picked Bovis Lend Lease, whose regional office is located in New York City. Altogether, seven construction firms made a bid for the South Jersey assignment, while eight firms applied for North Jersey.

As far as the procedural changes, the first allows the EDA to secure sites for temporary classroom units and lease them to Abbott school districts. The second establishes conditions under which the EDA can enter into grant agreements for facilities valued at $500,000 or less.