Montclair School Reopening Pushed Back After Staircase Collapse

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The reopening of Montclair High School has been delayed another day – and possibly more – after a staircase collapsed last week, authorities said.

Montclair Public School District administrators originally said that the plan was to reopen the high school on Wednesday. However, the plan has now been pushed back at least a day so that officials can perform a “final inspection,” Superintendent Kendra Johnson said.

School administrators are now anticipating a “tentative” two-hour delayed reopening for students only on Thursday, Sept. 13. (Read the district’s full message here)

“The rationale for the two-hour delayed reopening… is to allow sufficient time for staff to prepare for instruction using a modified facilities utilization plan,” Johnson stated Tuesday.

“Provided our modified facilities utilization plan is approved, we will tentatively reopen using a two-hour delay for students only,” Johnson stated. “Staff report at the regular time. For the two-hour delay, first period classes will begin at 10 a.m. (there will be no zero period classes).”

• See related article: Montclair HS Staircase Collapses, Officials Close School

STAIRCASE COLLAPSES: ASSESSING ‘STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS’

Nobody was injured when a set of stairs at the high school collapsed on Friday, Sept. 7.

School workers immediately blocked off the affected staircase and rerouted all students and staff to the remaining staircases, according to a letter to parents from Johnson.

On Monday, several officials - including the district's engineers - were on-site to assess the high school buildings. Johnson said that school administrators decided to close MHS for students and staff on Tuesday so that workers can further analyze the structural soundness of each staircase at Montclair High School.

On Tuesday, officials continued to assess the high school buildings and created a modified facilities utilization plan. Johnson wrote:

“For your consideration, the Annex was cleared for full use, and select areas in the main building were also cleared. Regrettably, we will not have full access to the Main building, and therefore, we will close Montclair High School again tomorrow for one final inspection. For the safety of our students, staff, parents/guardians and visitors, I am directing that both buildings remain closed to all students, all parents/guardians, all visitors and all staff (only exceptions include: (1) select facilities team members focused on a ground level project and (2) district facilities consultants – engineers, vendors and architect). Select sports teams will be allowed to practice using the Field House and associated fields only.”

The superintendent shared some "commitments" to parents and students:

• Focus on Safety – "I will make critical decisions that promote the safety of our students and staff. While closing the high school the second week of the 18-19 school year is disappointing, it is a necessity. Once we re-open the high school, I will share the plan to address our compliance with state required seat time for all high school students. Safety is always the focus."
• Ongoing Communication – "I will provide daily updates on or before 5 p.m. In the update, I will inform if we will open school the following day. My goal is to assess the building daily to make an informed decision. Safety is always the focus."
• Status of the Repairs – "Our district architect and Director of Building and Grounds will provide an update to the Montclair Board of Education on September 17, 2018 at or around 7:45 p.m. If you are interested, you may attend the Board Meeting or watch the Board Meeting live on Channel 33. The meeting will be posted to our district website within 72 hours of the meeting. Safety is always the focus."

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