Mold-Infested Freehold Elementary School Reopens After Clean Up

FREEHOLD, NJ — Months after Laura Donovan Elementary was closed due to mold discovered in the classrooms, students and staff kicked off 2025 by returning to school.

In a statement sent to Patch, Freehold Township School District Superintendent Neal Dickstein said Laura Donovan officially re-opened Thursday morning and that everything is back to typical operations.

The school’s re-opening is long-awaited, as Laura Donovan first closed for repairs in late August.

While the school was closed, students and staff were relocated to other elementary schools throughout the district by grade.

Though repair efforts started immediately after mold was discovered, Dickstein said clean-up was taking longer than anticipated, resulting in the school’s closure and students' and staff’s relocation.

"We have considered multiple options with the main goals being the safety of your children and to minimize disruption to the schedules of our families," Dickstein said in a letter to parents.

Following Laura Donovan’s closure, community members rallied support for the school’s students and teachers. Due to the mold, staff lost supplies left in their classrooms and needed replacements just days before the 2024-2025 school year began.

With some help from families, community members and local officials, wishlists made by Laura Donovan teachers were fulfilled to help them replace lost supplies.

“These educators are dedicated to providing a top-quality education for our children, but they now face the challenge of doing so with limited resources,” NJ Senator Vin Gopal said. “Let’s come together, as we always do, to show our teachers and students that they have the full backing of this community.”

To learn more about Laura Donovan Elementary School, you can visit their website.

Related

• Mold Temporarily Closes Freehold Township Elementary School
• Mold That Shuttered Freehold Twp. School Ruined Teachers' Supplies