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Monday, December 20, 2010

Broken Pipe Floods Elementary School

MT. ANGEL — Mt. Angel School District officials are working fast to patch up damage to a kindergarten classroom.

On Nov. 24, a pipe in the sprinkler system at St. Mary’s Public Elementary School blew a hole the size of a silver dollar, causing water to pour into the classroom.

“Fortunately, there was no school that day,” said Superintendent Bob Young, adding that it was around noon the day before Thanksgiving. “Some computer equipment and classroom materials were damaged, but no major damage to the classroom itself.”

Three inches of water also seeped into the hallway and other classrooms. Because it was connected to the fire protection system, firefighters wereautomatically alerted and on the scene quickly.

“With the help of the firefighters, the maintenance/custodial crew was able to suck the water out quickly, minimizing damage,” Young said. “We were able to move some furniture and necessary supplies to a spare classroom so that class would go on as usual by the following Monday.”

He added that the kindergarten teacher, Katie Ross, also came in over the weekend to make sure the makeshift classroom was ready for school.

“She is a real trooper,” Young said. “We had a couple layoffs last year so we actually had a spare classroom down in the (grades) 3, 4, 5 area just being used as a study hall and for specialized classes.”

He added that the kindergartners are excited to be in the same hall as the “big kids.”
While Ross’ class should be ready to move back into its classroom after winter break, the problem may not be over with the fire protection system.

“(Director of maintenance) John Smith has detected two other places where pinhole leaks caused the pressure to drop but was able to get those leaks repaired prior to creating a similar situation,” Young said.

“The system is located in the rafters and a good part of the system is not easy to get to,” Young said.

Young said it is still unclear what is causing the leaks or how much money it will cost to repair.

“Repair to the damaged pipe will most likely take place during winter break and the system checked for other potential leaks,” Young said.

“Hopefully the cause will be determined as well. Our insurance folks are also investigating. … That’s where the cost comes in.

“Hopefully it doesn’t mean replacing the whole system.”

He’s not sure what the cost would be to replace the system, but it would be an unusual problem for a building that is only 13 years old.

He said there are two pipe systems for the fire protection, one that is wet, having water constantly in it, and one that is higher called the dry, which is the one with the problem.

When the dry system detects major heat in the rafters or outside the building, it releases pressurized water.

Young wanted to thank those who helped prevent the problem from being worse.

“I commend the firefighters who responded and the maintenance and custodial crew, led by John Smith, for their rapid response in removing the water and drying out the carpet areas, as well as assisting in setting up a temporary classroom for the coming Monday,” Young said.

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