Mold closed N.J. elementary school. Classes are moving to an N.J. university.

Hundreds of displaced students from a Union County elementary school that was closed due to mold will find a new home at Kean University beginning next week.
The students will be coming from Hannah Caldwell Elementary School in Union Township, which was recently shut down after mold was found throughout the building, including the library and several classrooms, according to a report by CBS.
The initial plan was to temporarily relocate the students to other schools in the district as further testing was done, the report stated.
It was unclear if all the students would be housed at the university. The superintendent of the district could not immediately be reached for comment.
But for now, the plan is for hundreds of students to attend school on the fourth floor and a portion of the third floor of Kean’s 1085 Morris Avenue facility for the rest of the academic year, according to a release from the university.
Kean, which recently acquired the building, is providing the space at no cost to Union Township Public Schools, the university said. As part of the agreement, Kean’s College of Education will collaborate with the district to create experiential learning opportunities for Kean students.
“As an anchor institution, Kean is pleased to support the Union Township community in its time of need,” Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet said in a statement. “This partnership allows us to provide these young learners a safe and supportive environment. We are proud to help ensure their education continues uninterrupted while strengthening the bonds between our University and the community we serve.”
The Hannah Caldwell Elementary students are expected to begin classes at Kean’s facility on Nov. 18, and remain there through the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, officials said.
District and university officials said they were working together to ensure a smooth transition for students and their families and added that a parent night was scheduled for Nov. 17.
“We understand that this transition may bring questions and concerns,” Township of Union Public Schools Superintendent Gerry Benaquista said in a letter to district families.
“Rest assured that we are committed to making this move as smooth as possible for our students, staff, and families. We will continue to keep you informed of any updates or changes as we progress towards the opening of our temporary facility.”
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at [email protected].