Pawtucket School Committee discuss issues with Winters Elementary School
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WJAR) — The Pawtucket School Committee discussed ongoing issues at the brand-new Henry J. Winters Elementary School at their meeting Tuesday night.
Students have been learning remotely for over a week after leaders said a heating coil ruptured and pipes burst, causing the building to flood.
Leaders said they expect students to return to the classroom after February break on Feb. 27.
"Twenty-three rooms and learning spaces were damaged," said Acting Superintendent Lisa Benedetti-Ramzi.
School leaders said three rooms were heavy damaged. They say the best case scenario is that the three rooms will remain unopen, and the worse case scenario is that nine can't open.
They don't know how much the damage will cost, but said taxpayers will not be responsible.
"This is a brand new building and it's a heating coil that failed, so it's absolutely going to be something that insurance is working with," said Benedetti-Ramzi.
While the failure is the heating system is being investigated, committee members want to ensure it won't happen again in the future.
"We need to guarantee that we're not going to have a blowback on a coil in another classroom, the heat that comes out of that is 185 degrees," asked Pawtucket School Committee member Joanne Bonollo.
William Bryan, principal in charge of Rhode Island K-12 building projects for Gilbane Building Company, said the building passed all tests before opening to students.
The acting superintendent is trying to bring normalcy back to Winter's children by partnering with The Boys and Girls Club and First Student
"We're going to be able to offer an onsite activity for the kids at the boys and girls club this week so they can see their friends and teachers," said Benedetti-Ramzi.