First Day Of Middletown Schools Sept. 13; Mold Removal Continues

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown school district is still on track to have its first day of school be Monday, September 13, as the district was able to increase the amount of staff working in schools to expedite mold remediation, superintendent Mary Ellen Walker announced Wednesday in this letter home to all parents.

Middletown schools will operate that first day on a delayed opening for all kindergarten through 12 grade students.

The first day of school in Middletown was supposed to be Wednesday, Sept. 8. But the discovery of mold — unearthed at the very tail-end of summer — in several classrooms at Nut Swamp and Lincroft elementary schools last week pushed back the first day of school for the entire district, as superintendent Walker said all school buildings needed to be checked for mold.

In the meantime, Middletown parents have watched in fury as other students across New Jersey get don backpacks and smiles — masks in hand — and pose for back-to-school photos.

And Middletown kids are still stuck at home, as working parents scramble to find childcare.

Walker said Wednesday the initial tests for mold were done in all Middletown elementary and middle schools.

"As of this morning, Fairview Elementary School, River Plaza Elementary School, New Monmouth Elementary School, Lincroft Elementary School, Bayshore Middle School, Thorne Middle School, and Thompson Middle School have received clearance from the environmental consultant to reopen for students and staff," she said Wednesday.

"Initial testing has been completed at Middletown High School North and we are awaiting the results. Initial testing of Middletown High School South continues today and is expected to be completed tomorrow."

Nut Swamp Elementary School was remediated earlier this week and retesting was completed Wednesday. Remediation at Navesink Elementary School is complete and retesting will be conducted Thursday.

Remediation is currently ongoing at Harmony, Leonardo and Ocean Avenue, she said.

Remediation at Bayview Elementary School is also ongoing and retesting is expected to take place on Saturday. Remediation at Middletown Village Elementary School is ongoing and will be performed in two stages over the course of the next few days.

"Based on this turnaround time, we anticipate all of our schools will open for K-12 students on Monday, September 13, with the exception of Middletown Village," Walker wrote.

"Last week we informed you of our plans to assess each school for mold and perform the necessary steps to correct the moisture problems causing the mold," she said. "Over the course of the past week, a tremendous amount of work has been carried out in the district to test and address moisture issues and mold remediation. That work has continued in several schools this week. As testing progressed, the scope of the work increased. We were able to increase the personnel working in our schools to expedite the remediation process."

Mold Discovery Delays Middletown School Start Date To Sept. 13 (Aug. 31)

Mold Present In 2 Additional Middletown Schools: Report (Sept. 3)

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