MONMOUTH BEACH — In a little less than a month, students from Monmouth Beach will be reunited at their hometown school in the borough.
The approximately 300 students have been attending school at one of three neighboring school districts for the past six months after the borough’s only K-8 public school, located along Manahassett Creek, was severely damaged during superstorm Sandy.
“The building [reconstruction] has been in progress for the past two or three months. We are almost there,” Monmouth Beach School Superintendent Brian Farrell said.
“The expected reopening of the school is scheduled for June 3.”
According to Farrell, approximately $2 million has gone into the reconstruction of the K-8 building, which took on approximately 3 feet of water after the Oct. 29 storm made landfall, damaging everything in the building except one technology lab and two kindergarten classrooms.
The damage included the entire heating and electrical systems, as well as all the furniture, classroom supplies, bleachers and more, he said.
Farrell said there were a number of delays involved with the project, but they were expected due to the amount of work involved.
“As they kept going through the building, they realized how much work had to be done,” Farrell said, adding that some of the work was not obvious at first.
“For example, in the science rooms, we had to make sure that the gas pipes were working properly. It all takes time.”
While the building was not gutted, the entire building had to be emptied for cleaning and repairs, which are nearing completion.
“Carpeting was put down, the heating system is being installed, water fountains are done, and the water heater is in,” Farrell said. “It’s like any construction project. You have to keep moving along.”
According to Farrell, the entire cost of the reconstruction project is being reimbursed by the insurance carrier.
He added that the district received numerous donations, including monetary donations of approximately $50,000, book donations that totaled 10,000 books, and school supplies.
Monmouth Beach School District was also a recipient of a $47,052 grant from the state Department of Education on April 30.
The funds are part of an approximately $1.2 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) program, and is being awarded to school districts impacted by superstorm Sandy.
According to a press release, the grant may be used for overtime for teachers, law enforcement, security officers and other staff; emergency transportation; technical assistance on developing an appropriate response to crisis; transportation and other costs to operate school at an alternative site; temporary security measures such as nonpermanent metal detectors; and additional security guards and security cameras.
Farrell said the money would not be used for one specific item.
“It will probably be thrown in a pot for whatever we need,” he said.
Throughout the reconstruction, the students of Monmouth Beach School district have been attending schools in the Shore Regional High School, West Long Branch and Oceanport school districts.
The school day for the Monmouth Beach students runs from 9 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. to stagger the arrival and departure times of students, according to Farrell.
Class periods for these students are 32 minutes, for a total school day of four hours and 50 minutes, and focus on the core-curriculum subjects of language arts, math, social studies and science.
Students also take one special-area class such as music, art or Spanish.
Although the Monmouth Beach students do interact with the students that normally attend the school during lunch, accommodations have been made so that the students have their own classrooms.
“We are so thankful for all three school districts that have supported us through these six months,” Farrell said, adding that everyone is looking forward to the reopening.
“We are looking forward to going home. Everyone is ready to get back to Monmouth Beach.”