Schools

Princeton Middle School Delays Reopening By A Week

Construction and cleaning work at the middle school will delay student return by a week, the district announced Thursday.

Apart from other construction work, new HVAC units are being installed in classrooms at the school.
Apart from other construction work, new HVAC units are being installed in classrooms at the school. (Alex Mirchuk/Patch)

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Unified Middle School (PUMS) will delay reopening by a week due to incomplete construction and cleaning work, the school district announced Thursday.

The school was scheduled to bring back hybrid track students on Oct. 19. They will now go back to the remote learning schedule and return to the school building on Oct. 26.

In a letter to parents, guardians and staff, school Superintendent Barry Galasso said the construction work will be completed this week, and the following week will be spent cleaning and setting up classrooms.

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“Our hardworking staff will have access to the building starting Monday, Oct.19 and PUMS will continue to follow the all-remote schedule until Oct. 26 when students will shift to the hybrid schedule,” said Galasso.

In September, a staff member and two workers from the construction team at the school tested positive for COVID-19. The Princeton Health Department said they believed the cases were related.

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Read More Here: Another Worker Tests COVID Positive In Princeton Middle School

Apart from other construction work, new HVAC units are being installed in classrooms at the school. Galasso said the district is taking time to ensure the building meets all safety standards of cleanliness and ventilation.

“Our top priority continues to be the safety of our staff and students. Taking the time to make sure that the building meets our standards for cleanliness and ventilation is more important than ever. We know that the schedule change presents challenges for our parents, our staff and our students,” said Galasso.

The school district brought back students from pre-K, kindergarten and first grade to elementary schools on Oct. 5.

On Oct. 12, second to fifth grade students returned to school and Oct. 19 will see Princeton High School students return.

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