Bridgewater Middle School To Reopen For In-Person Learning Monday After Flooding Damage

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Good news for middle school students! For the first time this school year, students will be able to step foot inside the middle school on Monday after Hurricane Ida floodwaters damaged the school.

"As you know the middle school boar the brunt of the flooding occurring 4 weeks ago," said Superintendent Robert Beers at the Tuesday night Board of Education meeting.

The Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School experienced flooding across its entire first floor causing a virtual start to the school year.

Since then the district implemented the following remediations:

• Water was removed and the building was dried out and dehumidified using dehumidifiers and fans from a hired company
• All carpets on the first floor were ripped out and replaced including in the auditorium, music wing, media center, main office, and a few classrooms
• Environmental testing was completed to check for air quality
• Damaged furniture and cabinets were removed. Replacements are being ordered and will be installed. However, there is an 8- to 12-week delay due to supply chain shortages.

In the meantime, the school will reopen while a few classrooms will remain off-limits while the district continues to remediate and renovate these rooms.

However, the gym will also be off-limits for a month to 6 weeks. Due to the water, there is a hump in the gym floor that is roughly 3 feet tall.

"That is really not conducive for gym or basketball or anything like that," said Beers.

Beers noted that a contractor was on the agenda to be approved by the board for the gym repairs who says they will complete the job in 4 weeks.

"We are hoping to have everything in place in time for winter sports, winter activities and the like," said Beers.

Additionally, the flooring in the fitness room has been removed and will be replaced.

"With that, it's really amazing if you walk through the school now versus what it looked like 4 weeks ago to see the progress we made," said Beers.

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