Woodbridge School Temporarily Closed By Mold

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Indiana Avenue School #18 in Woodbridge Township, which has been shut down for the past two weeks due to mold, may re-open this Monday, March 19, superintendent Dr. Robert Zega said. But that has not been confirmed as of Friday.

The mold was first discovered when a roof leak was detected above the ceiling in the main office in January of this year. Dr. Zega told MyCentralJersey that the ceiling was opened and a "significant amount" of mold was found. Air quality tests also found trace amounts of asbestos, he said, according to the article.

Further testing has been done and Dr. Zega told the newspaper he's optimistic students will be allowed back in this coming Monday, March 19.

The school has been closed since at least March 5 with students being housed at Iselin Middle School.

"Iselin Middle School was a reasonable choice because it is relatively close and it has the capacity for the 600 students from School #18," said Dr. Robert Zega

Released by the Woodbridge school district on Wednesday, March 14, here is a list of all the testing that's been done at Indiana Avenue School so far:

1. Mold Tests in every room and hallways.

2. Asbestos Tests in every room and hallways.

3. In the main office, principal’s office, and classroom #1:

a. A negative air pressure machine was installed in all three areas.
b. All surfaces including walls, desks, chairs, books, etc. were cleaned and wiped with mold killer.
c. Walls and floors were covered with plastic.
d. Spline ceiling was removed in its entirety.
e. Ceilings were sprayed and wiped with mold killer and mold inhibitor.
f. Front window panes were removed, blinds were discarded, front and back window panes were
cleaned, front window panes were replaced in principal’s office and classroom #1.
g. Additional tests were done after the work was completed.

4. In the hallways, and classrooms on the lower addition to the building:
a. A visual inspection was done room by room looking for any signs of mold
b. In all rooms, areas where bubbling paint was seen, the areas were scraped, cleaned, and treated
with mold inhibitor.
c. Affected areas were painted with mold inhibiting purple paint.
d. Purple areas were repainted to match the original wall color.

5. Throughout the building:
a. A visual inspection was done looking for discolored ceiling tiles.
b. Discolored ceiling tiles were replaced.
c. Ceiling tiles in room #5 were replaced in area where a bird had entered the classroom.
d. Rooms 6, 7, 8, and 9 were inspected for animal remnants – none found.
e. Holes and cracks throughout the building were filled.
f. NJ Department of Health (PEOSH) representatives walked the building and determined it was
safe to reenter.

Photo via Woodbridge School District