| |||||||||||||||||||
Star Ledger - Some N.J. schools might be unusable following Hurricane Sandy, officials say
The Record - State's largest teachers union cancels two-day school conference next week
Star Ledger - Some N.J. schools might be unusable following Hurricane Sandy, officials say
By Jeanette Rundquist/The Star-LedgerThe Star-Ledger
on November 01, 2012 at 12:50 PM, updated November 01, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Hurricane Sandy may have left some New Jersey schools so damaged that they can't be used, New Jersey School Boards Association officials said.
In a letter being sent today to school boards across the state, Association President John Bulina said "there is a strong possibility that (some schools) will be unusable as educational facilities for quite some time" because of tidal surges, floods and damaging winds.
In addition, he said, "classroom supplies and equipment may have also been destroyed."
No details were available on the number of schools that may have been significantly damaged or destroyed.
The school boards association, which was also closed by the storm, plans to begin reaching out to school administrators across the state next week to assess the damage, cost estimates and information on how education programs have been affected.
Association Executive Director Lawrence Feinsod also said the association plans to serve as a clearinghouse for districts, trying to connect districts that need supplies or equipment with districts that may have items to spare
The Record - State's largest teachers union cancels two-day school conference next week
Thursday, November 1, 2012 Last updated: Thursday November 1, 2012, 11:39 AM
The state's largest teachers union has canceled its convention scheduled for Atlantic City next week, paving the way for school districts to schedule classes for next Thursday and Friday.
The adjustment could help districts recover from the loss of class time this week. Many districts have been closed all this week because of the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy.
The New Jersey Education Association says it is urging its local union members to talk with school officials to restore some of the missed days, including possibly working on Nov. 8 and 9.
"This is by every measure of the word an extraordinary situation," said Steve Wollmer, spokesman for the statewide union.
Most districts allow for about four emergency or snow days in their annual calendar. If they exceed that, they have to make up the days during a scheduled school break or at the end of the school year. Schools are required to provide 180 days of instruction.
The union made the call to cancel the convention on Thursday morning. The two-day event generally brings 20,000 to 30,000 to the seaside resort, which has been hit hard by Sandy.
