Community Corner

Students Return to Long Beach Middle School After Sandy

Story and Photos by Rosemary Leonetti.

Long Beach Public Schools took another step toward full recovery after Superstorm Sandy, as Long Beach Middle School opened its doors to returning sixth- and seventh-graders on the morning of Dec. 3.

Long Beach Middle School students had been attending classes at the high school since Nov. 13 while the middle school underwent restoration work after Superstorm Sandy. Eighth-graders are expected to join them back at the middle school on or around Dec.19.

According to the Long Beach School District, after the storm hit and damage assessments were completed on all buildings, the work of remediation and restoration began. Under the supervision of an environmental consultant, anything that came in contact with water was disposed of or sanitized. A restoration firm was brought in to clean and sanitize all rooms and their contents, according to strict environmental standards.

The three buildings that sustained the least damage — Lindell School, East School and Long Beach High School — were fully restored when classes resumed Nov. 13. The Lido Complex and West School sustained more extensive damage. Beginning Nov. 13, Lido Elementary School students have been housed at Lindell School, West School students have been attending classes at East School and middle school students were temporarily moved up to the high school.

Lido elementary students should be able to move back to their building the first week in January, the district said. West School, which sustained the most extensive damage, will not be ready to receive students back until sometime in March. Pre-K classes, which had been suspended since the storm, resumed on Nov. 28, housed temporarily at Lindell School. Pre-K students who previously attended both the morning and afternoon sessions will both attend during the morning session as restoration work continues around the district.


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