Paterson district gives new contract to assemblyman's son for video game rooms in schools

PATERSON — Three additional city schools are joining a program that allows students to go to “SWAG” rooms to play video games as a reward for improved behavior or academic performance.

The Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a $240,000 contract for the program expansion with Zone6ix, a company owned by Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly's son, Justin.

The new contract will add Students With Academic Goals — or SWAG — rooms at School 13, School 26 and Alexander Hamilton Academy, officials said.

“The contract is the combined cost for the installation of SWAG Rooms at three schools,” quperintendent Laurie Newell said in a written statement.

“The amount, not to exceed $240,000, is based on the kinds of materials, entertainment options, and work that each school has requested from the vendor,” Newell said.

Other buildings that already have SWAG rooms include Paterson’s School 10, School 21, and the Dr. Frank Napier Jr. School of Science & Technology.

The district’s original contract with Zone6ix was approved in August 2022 for $200,000. That deal was renewed for the 2023-24 school year. The school board also had a sports marketing contract with Zone6ix for $17,500 last year, a deal that allowed the Wimberly firm to handle ticket sales for some Paterson home high school football games.

The school board approved the new contract on Wednesday night without discussion.

School board Vice President Kenneth Simmons said in an interview on Thursday that the SWAG rooms have been successful.

“If you talk to the principals in the schools that have them, they say they’re beneficial and they like them,” Simmons said.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson district gives new contract to assemblyman's son for video game rooms in schools