John O'Connor

ATLANTIC CITY — Sylvia Stewart drove more than 600 miles from South Carolina because she promised her friends she would do whatever it took to join them in saying goodbye to the New Jersey Avenue School due to the impact it had on her life.

Stewart, a former principal, alumni, former staff and community members gathered at the school Wednesday afternoon for a farewell ceremony. The building is set to be demolished for a new district administration facility.

“We did many things that other people didn’t,” said Stewart, who led the school from 2001 to 2012. “We entertained a lot of folks in the community and dignitaries. We had Home Depot come in and talk to parents and teachers about how to do floor tiling and electrical paneling, and how to fix all kinds of things because t

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