Wall School Trailer Conditions Continue To Anger Parents

WALL, NJ — Parents are still expressing anger and frustration about the conditions of trailers at Wall School District's Central School and the district's plans to use the trailers, a day after the district superintendent said the trailers will not be used for student classrooms this year.

Photos of the trailers, showing deteriorating wood and other damage, began circulating on social media on Sunday. On Monday Superintendent Cheryl Dyer emailed a letter to parents of fifth-grade students who were scheduled to have classes in the trailers this fall saying that would not happen, and that the classes would be held in the building.

Dyer, in a follow-up email to all parents in the district that she forwarded to Patch, said some of the information circulating on social media was inaccurate and misleading.

"(The photos) are not photos of the trailers as they were in June when they were being used," Dyer said. The photos, which show the deteriorating wood and holes in some places, in part show places where wood was removed by contractors to determine the extent of the damage.

The work on the trailers began in July, Dyer said, and the plan was to remove and replace damaged wood siding with new wood sheathing, remove the deteriorated wood trim, and install vinyl siding on the outside of the trailers.

As work got started, however, they realized the damage was more extensive than originally thought, Dyer said.

"The holes in the siding around the trailers were made by the contractor so that the condition of the framing under the siding could be checked. Although, there were a number of soft spots in the wood siding, there were no holes in the siding prior to starting the work this past July," she said.

"The damage to the wood joists on the front trailer is the most severe framing damage and it appears to be limited to that location," Dyer said.

The damage has caused a delay in the work but Dyer said it's anticipated to be completed before school starts in two weeks.

"That work includes repairing damaged wood framing and siding; replacing damaged trim boards; installing vinyl siding on two sides of each trailer, and replacing damaged T111 and painting the siding on the other two sides of each trailer," she wrote. The building inspector determined some of the work required an additional permit and that permit is being obtained, Dyer said.

Air quality tests have been conducted and the district is awaiting the results, and the Monmouth County Health Department and the executive county superintendent of schools both have visited the site. The trailers may be used as instructional spaces in the future when they are deemed to be safe and healthy environments, Dyer said.

"Please know that nothing is being done to 'cover up' the damage to the trailers," she said.

Parents on social media sites are not placated, with some demanding they be torn down.

"This is extremely frustrating," one parent wrote. "Why is money going toward repairing them when they need to be torn down and replaced?"

"As long as they do what's right and fix it the right way I don't have a problem but I'd be shocked if they're going to fixed (sic) the rotted floor Joists and floor plate for the outside walls the way they should be!" another said.

A number of parents said they were planning to attend Tuesday evening's school board meeting to express their concerns. The board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Wall Intermediate School.

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