Maplewood Middle School will be closed for a second consecutive day, following the partial collapse of a second floor ceiling, as officials await results of environmental tests.
Should the school not reopen by Thursday, May 28, the district will pivot to virtual learning for MMS students.
“There will be no school for Maplewood Middle School students tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27,” wrote Principal Dara Gronau in an email to families sent on May 26. Gronau had written parents on Monday, May 25 announcing the collapse and the closure of school on Tuesday, May 26.
“We are currently awaiting lab results, which are expected later this evening,” wrote Gronau on Tuesday. “Those results will help guide our next steps moving forward.” Gronau added that the second day of school closure would necessitate that the day be made up at the end of the school year. The first day of closure is being accommodated by making June 2 a full day of school.
Gronau wrote that “Additional updates will be shared as soon as more information becomes available.”
On May 25, Gronau reported that, over the weekend, “the South Essex Fire Department received an alarm notification at Maplewood Middle School. Upon arriving on site, first responders discovered a partial ceiling collapse on the second floor of the building. The South Orange Maplewood School District Buildings and Grounds Director, along with additional district team members, immediately reported to the site to assess the situation.”Emergency dispatch recordings indicate that a possible gas leak was reported.
Gronau credited the “prompt response and support provided by the South Essex Fire Department, our district facilities team, and the Superintendent during this situation.”
Village Green has reached out to South Orange-Maplewood School District officials for more information and has not yet received a response. South Essex Fire Chief Joseph Alvarez said he is working on a report. In a message to families on Tuesday evening (see below), Supt. Jason Bing said that students and staff would return to in-person learning if lab results clear the building tonight, but that virtual learning was not an option — until three days are missed. Bing wrote, “If the building cannot safely reopen by Thursday, we will trigger the 3-day state threshold. We would pivot to virtual learning until the building is clear-this should be no more than 3-5 days.”
The collapse comes as families continually catalogue and seek redress from the district on facilities issues across the school district, including at MMS — despite the completion of a recent Long Range Facilities Plan allocating approximately $180M+ to seal buildings and upgrade HVAC.
This story was originally published on May 25, 2026, and was updated on May 26, 2026.
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From Supt. of Schools Jason Bing at 6 p.m. on May 26:
Dear Maplewood Middle School Community,
I am writing to provide an important update regarding Maplewood Middle School. Out of an abundance of caution, Maplewood Middle School will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27. We are currently awaiting pending lab results to guarantee the building is entirely safe for our students and staff to return.
I know unexpected closures are challenging, and I want to address a few immediate questions regarding virtual learning and make-up days, as well as our potential next steps.
Why Can’t We Switch to Virtual Learning Tomorrow?
Per state regulations, districts are not permitted to pivot to virtual learning until a school has missed three consecutive days. Because of this rule, remote learning is not an option for Wednesday. Tomorrow will be treated as a traditional emergency closure day, and it will need to be made up at the end of the school year.
Potential Scenarios Moving Forward
We expect to receive the lab results later tonight. Once we have that data, we will immediately share our definitive next steps. In the interest of full transparency, here are the two paths we are looking at:
- Scenario A (Best Case): Lab results clear the building tonight. Students and staff return to regular in-person learning on Thursday, May 28. The missed days will be tacked onto the end of the school year calendar.
- Scenario B (Contingency Plan): If the building cannot safely reopen by Thursday, we will trigger the 3-day state threshold. We would pivot to virtual learning until the building is clear-this should be no more than 3-5 days.
To ensure the building is entirely safe, the school and district typically rely on a strict, multi-step verification process. Here is what that looks like in practice:
- Independent, Certified Experts: The state-approved vendors aren’t just general contractors; they are licensed structural engineers and forensic investigators. They are legally bound by strict safety codes and have zero incentive to clear a building unless it is 100% safe.
- Rigorous Testing: They don’t just do a visual walkthrough. They use specialized equipment to test load-bearing walls, foundations, and support beams to ensure everything meets or exceeds modern safety standards.
- Local Authorities Oversight: In addition to the state vendors, local building inspectors and code enforcement officials typically must review the findings and clear the building for occupancy.
- What you can look for next: When the “prioritized facility plans” are shared in July, they will include a summary of facility work scheduled for the next few years.
Future Steps
As part of our ongoing work, the District completed a new Long Range Facilities Plan earlier this school year. This plan provides a comprehensive assessment of all district facilities and identifies both immediate needs and long-term priorities to guide our work moving forward. Maplewood Middle School is included in this plan and is part of our current prioritization efforts.
We are now completing the implementation phase of the plan, which involves reviewing identified needs, determining project sequencing, and aligning work with available funding and required approvals. This funding may include local bonds, state grants, and local funds. This is a deliberate and structured process designed to ensure that improvements are addressed in a responsible, strategic, and sustainable manner.
It is also important for families to understand that all facilities work must comply with strict New Jersey Laws and state regulations. The District is required to utilize state-approved vendors and follow formal procurement and contracting procedures for any work related to school facilities. These requirements ensure safety, transparency, and accountability in the use of public funds, even when they may extend timelines. NJ state protocol must be followed and complied with (this includes inspections, testing etc). It is completely understandable that you want concrete reassurance about this. When it comes to the safety of students and staff, “good enough” doesn’t cut it.
Long-Term Facilities & Bond Request Update
Looking beyond our immediate situation, I want to reassure our community that addressing our aging infrastructure remains a top priority, as discussed in our May budget presentation. For over a year, the district has been diligently working on a comprehensive bond request.
While the initial focus of this bond was slated for major upgrades to our district auditoriums and the Ritzer field, the current situation underscores the urgency of broader facility needs. Consequently, we will be expanding the scope of the upcoming bond proposal to include critical modernization and infrastructure projects at other district schools, with Maplewood Middle School prioritized at the top of that list. Our goal is not just to resolve today’s challenges, but to secure the long-term safety, comfort, and structural integrity of all our school buildings for years to come within all taxpayers means. I will continue to share updates on this long-term planning as the bond proposal develops.
In partnership,
Jason Bing
