Schools Getting 'Back to Normal' Post-Sandy, Superintendent Says

Parsippany's schools are getting "back to normal" following Superstorm Sandy, according to its superintendent.

Dr. LeRoy Seitz said that after eight days off, students returned to school last Thursday.

The storm will mean "a modification to the 2012-13 calendar," the superintendent said, however, specific dates for makeup days for the regular school calendar and for SAT testing are still in the process of being set. Seitz said a committee will come up with proposed dates for the school board's approval likely by the end of the month.

There was concern in the community regarding the Board of Education building and . The BOE site was repaired quickly and the building served as an election polling place last Tuesday. As for the elementary school, Seitz said it too is back in business.

"Lake Hiawatha had only a part of the roof damaged," he said. "A few days after the storm the roof was watertight, the affected classrooms were relocated and school opened last Thursday just like all the other schools. 

"We anticipate the roof repairs being completed within a week or less and the classrooms being restored before Dec. 1, 2012."

There was one other casualty to Sandy: Parsippany Hills High School’s AP Government and Politics class had planned a huge presidential election forum and polling last Thursday and Friday. The mock forum would have featured students in the roles of the Democratic, Libertarian, Socialist and Republican party candidates—and it would have allowed the student body to make its elective choice from the four.

Adviser Sabrina Rosendahl said the educational political event had to be cancelled because of the storm. She said weather permitting, next year's class will try again when election season again descends upon Parsippany.