Fungus Will Keep Hackettstown School Closed For A Month

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Fungus found in multiple classrooms at Willow Grove Elementary School will keep the school closed for a month, district officials said Thursday evening.

Fungus built up in 13 classrooms as a result of humidity and poor ventilation. All of those rooms are in need of remediation; another five rooms are being monitored. Officials said on Thursday it would take four weeks to clean up the fungus.

Willow Grove students stayed home Thursday, and attended Hackettstown Middle School on Friday as officials waited for more information on the length of the closures.

While Willow Grove is being cleaned, students will attend temporary schools based on their grade levels:

• The WG Preschool Disabled Program, 1st Grade: Central Elementary School in Great Meadows
• Kindergarten, 2nd Grade: Great Meadows Middle School
• 3rd, 4th Grades: Hackettstown Middle School

Transportation will be provided for our Kindergarten through 2nd grade students, leaving the Willow Grove School at 8:45 am and returning at 3:00 pm each day. Parents will have the option of transporting their children to the Great Meadows Middle School/Central Elementary School campuses or to have them placed on a school bus for transportation. Should you choose to transport your children yourself, I respectfully request that you email my office to allow our staff to account for our students during arrival and dismissal times each day.

All school events are cancelled during the closure, McQueeny said. The Willow Grove Catholic Charities after care program has also been suspended.

Image via Shutterstock