Anger Erupts As NJ School Shuts After Roof Collapse At Front Door

JERSEY CITY – A New Jersey school closed this week after the roof collapsed at the front door, officials said, sparking anger from the community's mayor who called the situation "unacceptable."

New Jersey City University’s A. Harry Moore School, which serves special needs children and young adults, will be closed until further notice, Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas.

The school will remain closed until a civil engineering firm inspects and confirms the structural stability of the building, Thomas said.

"The safety and security of the students attending the AHM program is the utmost priority for the JCBOE," he said. "We will work with the NJCU who run the school program to explore any alternate arrangements for the interim."

Jersey City Mayor Steven said Fulop he's urging President Sue Henderson and the NJCU board to reconsider their position on improvements at the A. Harry Moore School, which provides critical educational services to children with special needs.

He said structural improvements need to be done to the building before anything else the school has planned.

Fulop said it's "appalling" that at the same time NJCU has prioritized market rate housing, expansion plans and a theater operation for a New York City ballet company, "they would somehow think it is acceptable to turn their back on some of the most vulnerable children."

"If NJCU follows through on their letter to abandon children with special needs, it will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the university’s relationship with Jersey City and our administration’s willingness to work with NJCU in the future on any front," he said.

"This is unacceptable, and in the strongest way we urge NJCU to reconsider this decision and correct it publicly."