Newark School Closure Sparks Statewide DebateCritics claim that building troubles – mushrooms and all – are yet another example of School Development Authority's inefficiencies
The school in Newark's Ironbound section stood silent yesterday, a brick edifice built more than a century ago, its gate chained and locked, its 800 students dispersed to other schools because of deteriorating conditions.
But for all its quiet, Wilson Avenue School has spurred a chorus of debate. Hundreds of parents and others turned out for a meeting Tuesday to protest the district's decision to shutter the school just three days before classes were slated to start, due to severe mold and water damage exacerbated by Hurricane Irene.
And showing how seriously the Christie administration is taking the situation, on hand were acting education commissioner Chris Cerf and Schools Development Authority (SDA) chief executive Marc
Podcast: Back to School for Gov. Christie
Governor talks up his education agenda, admits some of it may have to wait.
