BARNEGAT – Barnegat High School will transition to remote learning this week as crews continue cleanup and repairs following a fire in a science lab on Friday, Principal Patrick Magee announced.
Firefighters and emergency personnel responded to a structure fire at the school after sprinklers were activated in the science lab, causing smoke throughout the building. Officials said the sprinkler system helped contain the fire, but water damage affected multiple classrooms.
Restoration work began soon after the incident but will take longer than initially anticipated, Magee said. Contractors are replacing ceiling tiles, cleaning HVAC and ventilation systems, and removing or sanitizing materials exposed to moisture to ensure the building is safe before reopening.
“Ensuring a safe, healthy environment for students and staff before we reopen is our top priority,” Magee told families in a letter.
Barnegat High School will be closed to students and teaching staff on Monday, October 27, while 12-month employees report as scheduled. Instruction will be remote. From Tuesday, October 28 through Friday, October 31, students will follow their normal schedule virtually via Google Classroom.
State testing will be postponed until after the break, while sports and the annual Trunk or Treat event will continue as planned. The district’s 18–21 Program will operate online, and full-time vocational students will attend their programs as usual. Shared-time vocational students will have no transportation Monday but will resume regular travel to vocational sites for the remainder of the week.
Magee thanked the community for its support and flexibility, noting that the district is focused on reopening the building “as soon as it is safe to do so.”
