Middle School is now scheduled to fully re-open in November 2005 !!! Why can't this be done by September ? When will we get a firm answer from the administration?



$11G for tips on school fire

Published in the Asbury Park Press 1/05/05

By JUSTIN VELLUCCI
KEYPORT BUREAU

ABERDEEN -- Information about a suspicious Labor Day fire at Matawan Avenue Middle School could make someone $11,000 richer.

While police continue their investigation, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District's insurance company is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to convictions for the rooftop fire, which they believe was an act of arson.

Aberdeen police have deemed the fire suspicious but have made no arrests.

The school district also is offering a separate $1,000 reward through the WeTip program in the hope of further encouraging people with information to step forward.

"We'd like to get the word out," Business Administrator Laura Venter said Monday.

The district will do just that by circulating fliers about the rewards and posting the information on local cable access stations, Venter said.

Lisa White, supervisor of member services for New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group, said the $10,000 reward is written into her company's policies but rarely used.

"It's been there for years but we've never had an arson-caused fire in the last couple years that I know of," White said. "So, it's never really been called upon."

The Burlington-based, nonprofit insurance company covers Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District for property and casualty damages, White said.

It also covers 381 other school districts throughout the state.

The Sept. 6 fire at the middle school forced officials to delay the start of the school year there and then close off nine classrooms. Fire damages also have led officials to convert the middle school gymnasium into four classrooms and move about 100 sixth-grade students to Lloyd Road Elementary School for instruction.

While Matawan-Aberdeen Superintendent Bruce Quinn hopes all students can start the school year at Matawan Avenue Middle School next September, the full scope of construction may not be complete until two months later.

Anyone with information about the fire can call Aberdeen police Detective Chris DeSarno at (732) 566-2054, Ext. 205.

Justin Vellucci: (732) 643-4238 or jvellucci@app.com