10 NJ Schools Have Now Closed, Changed Because Of Mold: Officials

Three more New Jersey schools have closed because of mold – meaning that 10 schools have either closed or made drastic changes because of mold this school year.

North Brunswick High School will remain closed through the end of this week due to the discovery of mold in the building, officials said.

The Dr. J.P. Cleary Elementary and Collings Lakes Elementary schools in the Buena Regional School District were closed on Monday because of mold, according to officials.

The schools say they're clearing the mold, which was found in isolated areas. But officials say they want to take every precaution to protect students and teachers while the cleanup takes place.

"I certainly understand the complexity of feelings that you may be experiencing – anxiety, anger and confusion," said David Cappuccio, superintendent of schools.

The Cleary school will be closed for approximately three weeks. Collings Lakes will be closed for two weeks. Officials say they're working to relocate the students in the meantime.

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...

North Brunswick

The mold problems are continuing to plague New Jersey schools at the start of the school year, and now we can add North Brunswick to the list.

The mold was first discovered last week and the high school was shut down early Friday morning, MyCentralJersey first reported. Read more here...

Mount Olive

Mold was found in a Mount Olive middle school, forcing the temporary closure of the building, acting Superintendent Susan Breton said in a letter.

The mold was found in two classrooms and the auditorium at the middle school, Breton said. Although the mold is not life threatening, it could cause respiratory issues. 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.

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