Mold, 106-Degree Heat Index May Impact First Week Of School In NJ

Something other than snow could present scheduling problems for your children this year.

Indeed, mold is already causing problems in at least six districts during the first week of school. Could the heat be far behind?

Those six districts either have had to delay openings or move children to other schools. This comes as the heat index hit 106 in some communities on Tuesday, and more of the same rough weather is expected on Wednesday (see information below).

So there's always the possibility that some of these districts could call for early dismissal as the heat is expected to last through Wednesday.

Here are the heat indexes as of 1:30 p.m.:

Here are the districts impacted by mold:

Hopatcong

Mold found in two Hopatcong schools has pushed back the first day of school for all Hopatcong students, the district announced.

Instead of heading back to school on Sept. 6 as planned, students will now head back on Sept. 10. Read more here...

Lakehurst

Lakehurst Elementary School teachers and students will start the 2018-19 school year under makeshift conditions, while mold remediation is conducted throughout the school, the superintendent said on the school's website. Read more here....

Blairstown

Blairstown students will get some extra summertime this year, after the discovery of mold forced the school to postpone its opening, superintendent Mark Saalfield said.

The school had been set to open on Sept. 4, but new air and surface tests revealed mold in some fourth grade classrooms. Classrooms in that wing will be remediated by a professional, Saalfield said. Read more here...

Old Bridge

Mold found at the Jonas Salk Middle School has delayed the school's opening until Sept. 12, the district says.

Stafford Township

The McKinley Avenue Elementary School will be closed for an undetermined period of time due to continuing mold problems in the school, Superintendent George J. Chidiac said.

McKinley students will instead attend school at the Stafford Intermediate School for the time being. Read more here...

Watchung

Bayberry Elementary School's opening was delayed, according to a message from interim superintendent Stephanie Bilenker. Fifteen classrooms had high levels of possible mold. School should start Sept. 11.

Here is the forecast:

• Tuesday afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 100. Light northwest wind.
• Tuesday night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
• Wednesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

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