BY KASI ADDISON
Star-Ledger Staff

Stephanie Garcia sat in the brand new, state-of-the-art television studio and smiled at the camera. She was among the students on hand to demonstrate some of the features of Newark Public Schools' new student center.

The building along Broadway is intended to be a place where stu dents from around the city can come to do homework, participate in activities and just hang out.

"This is so advanced," Garcia said looking at an image of herself on a nearby monitor. "It's pretty cool, all this professional equip ment. All the schools are very lucky."

Superintendent Marion Bolden dreamed up the idea of the center more than a decade ago after meeting with a group of students who said they needed more space for extracurricular activities including the yearbook, newspapers and other pursuits.

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