Even after teachers, staff, and students have already begun hybrid learning, and are due to return to classrooms next week, more than half of rooms inspected at Columbia High, Maplewood Middle, South Orange Middle, Seth Boyden and Marshall schools were deemed unfit for use. The majority of rooms at Clinton, Jefferson, South Mountain, South Mountain Annex and Tuscan elementary schools were deemed fit. None of the rooms at the Central and Transportation offices passed inspection.

The rooms were inspected by representatives from the South Orange Maplewood School District, South Orange Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA) and New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

Reasons a room could have failed inspection included having a broken radiator, broken unit ventilator (univent), not enough windows that open, no Odorox machine or not enough air circulation/fresh air. Some classrooms and office spaces that failed the initial inspection are still undergoing repairs and may be deemed fit for use after a second walkthrough.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON THE DISTRICT'S REMEDIATION PLANS.