'I Wiped Out:' Middletown Teacher Said She, Students Fell On Ice

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A teacher at Thorne Middle School said she, plus several students, slipped on ice and fell as they were walking into school buildings Monday morning — something she attributed to the school district not salting school walkways enough.

She said school parking lots were also icy and unsalted.

"I've lived in Middletown since 2000 and I have NEVER seen it like this," said the teacher, who did not want to be identified. "I wiped out, as did two of my students. A teacher fell at (High School North), as well. Another teacher told me he hurt his shoulder."

"I'm shocked by the lack of plowing and salting."

Middletown schools superintendent Mary Ellen Walker said as of 4 p.m., building administrators logged no reports of students or staff falling outside Monday. It is possible the teachers and students did not report the falls to the front office.

The teacher said she did not report her fall, and doesn't think her students did either.

"Our Facilities Department staff worked many hours Saturday and Sunday to remove snow and ice from our schools' parking lots and sidewalks. They did a great job, despite the frigid weather, wind and high amount of snow accumulation," said Walker.

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry said public works crews have been working since 6 p.m. Friday to plow and salt Middletown roads.

"By 12 noon Saturday, 90 percent of roads had been plowed at least once," he said. "We unfortunately had temperatures in the teens for two consecutive nights, which caused the snow to freeze and became snow-ice on the roadways."

There were several car accidents Saturday during the storm in Middletown, he previously said.

Middletown schools had a delayed start Monday due to the nor'easter blizzard New Jersey experienced Saturday. Middletown got about 11 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

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