Mold in new school postpones opening

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Mold in new school postpones opening

Repair bill: $5M to $10M

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/27/07

BY BILL BOWMAN

COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

Asbury Park Press Tue, 27 Mar 2007 1:37 AM PDT

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/NEWS/703270316

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NEPTUNE — Students who had anticipated attending the new Midtown

Community Elementary School in September will have to wait at least

another year while a rampant mold problem in the still-unfinished

school is corrected.

Officials with the state Schools Construction Corp. told the few

residents attending an informational meeting Monday that the mold

was caused by " uncontrolled water intrusion " in the walls at the

rear of the three-story school. Mold has grown on the gypsum

sheathing that lies just behind insulation and the brick facade.

SCC Chief Operating Officer Jerry said the " major problem "

will take about a year to fix and will cost between $5 million and

$10 million. The entire school project cost $42 million.

said the entire upfront cost of the repair will be borne by

the SCC. He said the agency's strategy is to fix the problem first,

then determine who is liable.

" It's up to us to go after the responsible party for liability, " he

said.

Officials said they did not know when the deconstruction work would

start because the exact cause had not yet been identified.

said the 280 children attending school in the approximately

20 trailers behind the school will not be affected by the repair

project.

" There is no reason to believe there is a health or safety problem, "

said.

Victor Perla, the SCC's regional director, said the repair will be

a " controlled demolition. "

" We're going to keep the rest of the school intact, so we can't come

in with a wrecking ball, " said Glass, an industrial hygienist

with the Hillmann Group of Union, an SCC consultant.

Schools Superintendent Mooij said that suggestions are being

taken from school staff to make the extra year in the trailers more

enjoyable. He said some recommendations — such as increased security

measures — have already been adopted.

" There haven't been any issues, but we need to make sure we don't

have any issues, " he said.

He also said that some classes may be moved to other schools next

year.

Kathy Glazewski, a special education teacher at the school, said

some students will be disappointed at the delay.

" They want a gym, they want a playground that's their own, " she said.

School Principal Jerard Terrell took the news philosophically.

" Everything has to happen when it happens, " he said. " The most

important thing is that we continue teaching our kids. "

Bill Bowman: (732) 643-4212 or bbowman@...