Bayberry Expected to Reopen Wednesday Pending Inspections

Despite having to be closed Monday and Tuesday because of power outages following a construction incident last week, Bayberry School is expected to reopen Wednesday, pending final inspections.

According to Watchung Superintendent Barbara Resko, a private contractor was drilling in the area of Bayberry School March 27, and hit a live conduit on the road surface outside the school's all purpose room.

"That caused several cables to burn, and a loss of power," she said. "There was no damage to the school, but there was smoke in the boiler room."

Watchung Police Lt. Joe Cina said the underground lines were marked inaccurately, which was part of the reason for the problem. He said there were some temporary power outages reported in the area, but all were restored quickly except for Bayberry School.

But with the work and the holiday weekend, Resko said, repairs were not finished by Monday's expected reopening after spring break.

"Part of the problem was the extensive nature of the repair work, plus the holiday weekend," she said. "They needed to do restoration and repair work. There are different inspections needed, holiday insurance companies, crews and machinery. It is more complicated than what it would appear."

With the school still unable to open Monday and Tuesday, students were instead sent to Valley View Middle School both days for one-session school days, ending at 12:45 p.m.

Instrumental music lessons for fourth graders were canceled for Tuesday, as were all after school activities.

Valley View students had a full day.

"We allowed teachers access [to Bayberry] over the weekend for their teaching materials," Resko said. "The curriculum is moving forward."

Inspections from the repair work are expected Tuesday afternoon, and Resko said the district is hoping to have all students and staff back at Bayberry on Wednesday.

"We will reassess if we can't open, and in the unlikelihood that Bayberry is not open Wednesday, there is the potential for classes to be held at Valley View again," she said. "We will at that point need to reassess all options, but now we are in a holding pattern."

Resko said the district has been communicating with parents through the website and phone blasts on the progress of the work.

But, Resko said, they didn't want to have to cancel school.

"We were closed for two weeks with Sandy, so that was a major factor in all our decisions," she said. "And April can be quite unpredictable."