Burst pipe floods Winters Elementary, canceling in-person learning
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WJAR) — Students at Henry Winters Elementary School in Pawtucket will continue distance learning on Tuesday after a burst pipe flooded parts of the building over the weekend.
According to a message sent to families, a heating coil failed during this weekend's cold snap, leading to a burst pipe.
Acting Superintendent Lisa Benedetti-Ramzi told NBC 10 water leaked onto all three levels of one wing and into multiple classrooms and common areas.
"It's phenomenal [the damage] is not more than it is," Benedetti-Ramzi said. "However it's unfortunate that it is what it is."
- RELATED: School and business closings
She said administrators learned of the issue around 6 a.m. on Monday and made the call shortly after to hold virtual learning for the day.
Pawtucket School Committee Chairman Jim Chellel said it was a third floor classroom that had a pipe issue.
"Desks, floor, everything in that classroom itself is basically almost unsalvageable," Chellel said. "We're not going to be able to clean it up."
He said the water trickled down to the second and first floors as a result.
The school is working with engineers and Gilbane Building Company to repair the damages. The superintendent will be meeting with restoration crews on Tuesday to determine if the school can return to in-person learning on Wednesday.
The incident is one of several over the past few months that has forced building closures at the brand new school, which opened its doors for the first time in September.
However, this opening was delayed after a backup battery for the fire alarm failed in August.
Two weeks later, a power outage in the school closed the building for two days.
Asked about the series of issues, Chellel said, "We did start off on the wrong foot with the delay [of the first day of school] and now we have this. Hopefully the school is just getting rid of all of its errors out the window. Hopefully they're getting rid of hiccups and they'll have a good 50-year run."
Benedetti-Ramzi said food service will be available on Tuesday at drive-up locations for those who need it.
Winters was not the only school to experience weather-related damage over the weekend.
According to Superintendent Dawn Bartz, Smithfield High School students are on distance learning for both Monday and Tuesday after the cold damaged heating coils. Bartz said a tree also fell and damaged the building's roof.
In Cumberland, Bradley School North held virtual learning on Monday after the building's pipes froze.
NCB 10's Cal Dymowski contributed to this report.