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School District Closes All Schools For Remainder Of Week To Test For Mold

MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) -- The Monroe Township School District has closed all schools for the remainder of the week in order to test for mold.

Parents fear the closures could last more than the one week announced on Monday.

That's, in part, because some parent believe tests will show the mold issue is bigger than the district thinks.

Concerning mold was found at Holly Glen Elementary, a South New Jersey school, which forced it to shut its doors last week.

On Monday it was announced every school in the same district will close.

The one-week closure was announced last-minute as parents were notified through a robo call at 2:30 p.m.

"It's serious. This is something like Flint, Michigan. I hope we are not as bad. We have no idea what we are facing as health conditions," said Brandee Derieux.

Derieux has a 9-year-old son in the Monroe Township School District.

"All year at Radix, he would come home with headaches, stomach aches," said Derieux.

Derieux took her son to the doctors and even had him get an MRI last year. She thought he might be making his illnesses up, but she now worries if the possible toxic mold at his school could be a factor in her son's health issues.

"There is sonething not right, they are still not telling us everything," added Derieux.

"We are doing everything we can to correct the situation. Making sure everything goes to the procedures and that we are opening the schools again when they are all clean," said superintendent Charles Earling.

The school superintendent added while the district had originally told parents at a meeting last week that only Holly Glen would close, the last-minute switch to close all schools in the district is more of a precautionary measure.

The district has already had half the schools in in Monroe Township tested over the weekend.

It is hoping to have some results at Monday night's meeting with parents at the Williamstown High School.

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