Pinelands Regional High School Reopening Date Delayed Again

LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ - Pinelands Regional High School students whose school year has already been disrupted by numerous problems in the building will have to wait a little longer to get back into their home school.

Acting Schools Superintendent Cheryl Stevens posted a letter to parents on the district website about the status of the high school's reopening.

The school will tentatively reopen on Jan. 17, with the caveat that all environmental problems in the building and on school property have been remedied, Stevens says in the letter.

The high school will reopen to staff only on Jan. 16. Students will return to full day sessions on Jan. 17, with a modified regular schedule with longer instructional periods and a shorter lunch time.

"The modified schedule will assure adherence to the credit hour time needed to meet graduation requirements," Stevens said in the letter.

Stevens took over as acting superintendent when former acting superintendent Maryann resigned because of health concerns in December.

The high school has been plagued with environmental problems likely related to a roofing project that started last year. The high school was closed after a roofing screw fell on a student in October. Students were then put on split sessions in the junior high school.

Newfield-based Epic Environmental told school officials in a Sept. 11 letter that asbestos debris was discovered in the high school roof, and that debris could enter the school and "cause safety hazards and air quality issues."

Epic recommended that the debris be removed and rooftop construction stop until a remedy was found. The company also advised school officials to close affected portions of the school while the roofing project was ongoing.

But there was no evidence that airborne asbestos contamination was present in the building, the Epic report said.

"Construction activities will continue to deteriorate the debris and will cause safety hazards and air quality issues," the Epic report said. "Based on previous data, asbestos contamination inside the building is not expected during this process."

"Hindsight is 20/20, but at the time with the information we had we made the best decision we could," Business Administrator Stephen Brennan told the audience at an Oct. 30 meeting. Brennan said the school was opened Sept. 7 based on an August report from Epic Environmental the school was asbestos-free.

The high school return checklist includes the following items:
● Clean Up of Playground and exterior perimeter of building
● Report of soil sample tests that confirm that the JHS/HS grounds are safe and ready for use
● Removal/Abatement of floor tiles on the second floor as recommended by a representative from the
Department of Health
● Inspection of all floor tiles throughout the building and, if necessary replace/repair damaged tiles
● Use a remediation company to clean the D-wing classrooms, HVAC system, and Hallway while under
negative pressure requiring the use of HEPA filter equipment
● Perform a "Flush Out" of the building
● Perform a thorough cleaning of entire building
● Upon completion of the above items, perform Asbestos/IAQ samples throughout the building to confirm
that the building is safe for occupancy
● Conduct Public Tours of the building (Schedule forthcoming)

Logo: Courtesy of Pinelands Regional School District