Hannah Caldwell students to be relocated to Kean University due to mold issue
Mold was discovered nearly three weeks ago at Hannah Caldwell Elementary in Union Township.
Some elementary school students in Union Township are being relocated for a second time after mold was discovered inside their school. Now, local leaders are stepping in to help.
Nearly 300 Hannah Caldwell Elementary students will head to class on Monday at Kean University. For the rest of the year, grades 1 through 4 will attend classes in the university's 1085 Morris Ave. building.
"When our President, Dr. Lamont Repollet heard what had happened…we all got together and said 'Hey, how can we help?'" said Karen Smith, vice president of University Relations.
When mold was discovered in the elementary school nearly three weeks ago, classes were moved to gyms, libraries and even other high schools within the district, which parents were not comfortable with.
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"I've spoken to probably 17 or 18 parents, and it appears to me that the district was trying to do something fast,” said Daryn Martin, Union Township district leader. "If they had listened to parents long ago, it wouldn't have been a problem."
Martin says some parents have refused to send their kids to school at all during the past three weeks. But according to the Union Township School District, virtual learning was not an option.
"I think Kean is going to work out, I believe it will because of the spacing,” Martin says.
Kean University is providing the space at no cost to Union Township Public Schools. As a part of the agreement, Kean's College of Education will collaborate with the school district to create learning opportunities for Kean students.
"We're glad to be able to do this, to be able to provide a safe and secure learning environment for these children which is absolutely important to their success which is important to us,” Smith added.
The university is hosting a walkthrough for parents at the 1085 building on Sunday.
