Matawan-Aberdeen Schools Closed All Week

Matawan-Aberdeen public schools will remain closed throughout this week and are expected to reopen on Monday, Nov. 12, said Board of Education President Charles Kenny.

School on Monday, Nov. 12 will be contingent upon whether or not the schools have power.

According to Kenny, a meeting was held Monday morning with school administrators and department directors as well as Aberdeen Police Chief John Powers and Matawan Sgt. Thomas Falco to discuss the status of the schools. While the schools are structural sound and did not experience flooding, Kenny said, the only building with power is Strathmore Elementary School.

Kenny explained that once the schools regain power, the district will need between 24 and 48 hours to clean and prepare the buildings and remove any non-perishable food left in the kitchen areas by Chartwells to ensure that it is a safe environment for the students.

"We know that there's a need to get normalcy in people's lives and we're striving to do that, but we need to do that when it's safe," he said.

Superintendent David Healy, Technology Director Kevin Dougal, and District Communication Officer Darlene Gallagher will continue to keep parents informed via the district website and their phone message system.

The Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting, scheduled to take place on Monday, Nov. 12, is not canceled, Kenny said. If power does not return to Cambridge Park prior to the meeting, it will be held at Strathmore Elementary School. A public notice will be distributed if the location is changed to Strathmore.

"There is no action anticipated; there is no emergent agenda. We just want to proceed with business as usual and be there to answer any questions the community may have," he said.