Point school opens as cleaning continues

Last Updated on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 03:45 pm Written by Shaun Smith Wednesday, September 19, 2012 05:27 pm

SOMERS POINT – Despite opening a week late due to mold the district opened its doors on another school year Tuesday morning.

Superintendent Jeff Miller said teachers and administrators did the best with a challenging situation revolving around a mold remediation process that began a week prior to the scheduled first day of school Monday, Sept. 10.

“I have to commend my teachers and administrative staff,” Miller said Tuesday, Sept. 18. “They weren’t able to get into their rooms until yesterday. In most cases they had to reorganize and redecorate their rooms.”

At Dawes Avenue School, Principal Doreen Lee visited every classroom with a smile and a fist bump.

“It’s fabulous,” said Lee of the first day. “We’re over-prepared and over-cleaned.”

While mold remediation was completed at Dawes and New York Avenue schools; the process is ongoing in the primary wing of Jordan Road School. Third grade students there were in the school but moved to temporary classrooms.

Students in first and second grades reported to Jordan Road School but teachers walked them to nearby Mission Point Church while their classrooms are being cleaned. Miller expects the primary wing of Jordan Road to re-open by Monday, Sept. 24.

Miller said teachers are walking students back to Jordan Road School for lunch, physical education and dismissal.

“Mission Point Church has been wonderful in getting us started,” Miller said. “They just opened their doors to us at no cost because they want to be good neighbors and good community members.”

Miller said while All Risk performs the remediation, Coastal Environmental is testing the buildings for mold contamination. He said remediation was ongoing during the day Tuesday.

“They did a very thorough job,” said Miller.

Due to the delayed start, back to school night has been rescheduled.

New York Avenue School will have their Back to School Night 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15; Dawes Avenue School at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 and kindergarten through sixth grades at 6:30 pm. Wednesday, Oct. 17 at Jordan Road School and at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15 for seventh and eighth grades.

The Somers Point Board of Education will review an updated school calendar for approval at its next meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at Jordan Road School.

Photos by Shaun Smith

Marcel Sanchez begins his first day of sixth grade by greeting people at Dawes Avenue School as a member of the Safety Patrol.   Doreen Lee, principal of Dawes Avenue School gives Tyler Pitts a fist bump in Kathy Ricciardi’s second grade class.