New elementary school in Edison, N.J., is replacing campus destroyed in fire
The Edison Township (N.J.) district is preparing to open a new elementary school building to replace on destroyed in a 2014 fire.
WNBC-TV reports that the rebuilt James Monroe Elementary campus is scheduled to welcome students on Jan. 3.
"We turned what seemed a tragic situation into a seamless, positive transition to a new school building," Edison Superintendent Thomas O'Malley said in a letter to James Monroe parents.
The old school, built in 1963, was destroyed in a March 2014 fire. An investigation concluded that the fire probably was caused by a cigarette discarded by a custodian, but prosecutors did not have enough evidence to bring charges.
Following the fire, the district was able to move displaced students to a vacant Catholic school, St. Cecelia's, in Woodbridge Township. Classes have been held there since then.
Video from WNBC-TV:
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Mike Kennedy
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Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.