Air Quality Tests To Decide If McCarthy, King Can Open Flood-Damaged Areas

Air quality tests were conducted by an industrial hygienist at both McCarthy Elementary and King Elementary on Thursday, said Framingham Schools Director of Building & Grounds Matt Torti.

Results are due on Friday. When we get those results, we’ll know if we can open the schools or have to go to a plan B, said Torti. The decision on what will happen is expected by Friday afternoon, said Torti.

The two schools were the most damaged when four pipes burst at four public schools over the weekend.

Custodians and school staff discovered the damage on Tuesday morning. Damage also was reported at Framingham High and at Walsh Middle.

There are no classes this week, as it is school vacation. Framingham High and Walsh Middle will open as expected on Monday.

Wednesday, Framingham Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano sent an email to McCarthy staff about the damage. In the email, he wrote the “goal is to have all classrooms ready to go come Monday.”

Framingham Teachers Association Co-President Sarah McKeon was at McCarthy on Wednesday.

“I saw for myself the damage. This is serious,” said McKeon who said the union will have a meeting with Torti on Friday.

“I am concerned. I don’t want the district to rush the decision, when the health and safety of the students and staff are at stake,” said McKeon.

Torti echoed the same sentiment Thursday afternoon.

“We need to do what is best. And safety comes first,” said Torti.

There are lots of meetings on Friday. We will have a better understanding of every thing then, said Torti.

He said a decision on whether the B wing at McCarthy can open or if part of King will need to be closed will be made on Friday.

He said the district would need to hammer out a Plan B, based on the test results.

If students need to be moved to another building, that would require a new bus schedule, which adds another complicated component to the clean-up.

Torti said all the administrators and principals will be gathering on Friday.

“We need to weigh all options,” said Torti. “but, also figure out an educational plan that is best for the staff and the children, that causes the least disruption.”

Soaked Carpets and Asbestos Tiles at McCarthy Elementary

On Tuesday afternoon, Torti called the situation “widespread” and “catastrophic.” He said the flooding and damage was nothing he has seen in his 16 years at the district. He said the district has had pipe issues in the past, but never to this extent.

Framingham Patch was the first to report the news of the damage at the four schools.

On Tuesday and again on Wednesday, teachers, staff and volunteer parents began the clean up process at each of the schools.

The Building Facilities Department, Building Inspectional Services, and Framingham DPW have all offered assistance on the municipal side, said Torti.

Insurance adjusters have been to the schools, and documented the damage, said Torti.

McCarthy suffered the most damage. The entire B wing, which includes 9 kindergarten and first grade classrooms, a hallway and a teacher’s lounge was flooded with two inches of water, when a pipe in an outside wall burst.

Industrial strength blowers and fans have been drying out the soaked carpet 24 hours a day since Tuesday, said Torti.

However, the carpet can not be ripped up and tossed out, as that would create a new hazard and problem for the school and district.

McCarthy was built in 1954, and renovated in 1995. The area with the damage is in the old wing, and underneath the carpet is “asbestos tiles,” said Torti.

“We can’t physically removed the carpet, as that exposes the tiles,” said Torti.

“Once the tiles are exposed, that would trigger an asbestos hazardous emergency response action. DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) would be notified.” That means the area would have to be quarantined off, and individuals in hazmat suits would be need to remove the asbestos.

Staff told Patch on Wednesday afternoon in some kindergarten rooms the carpet was still sopping wet.

Torti said even after the carpet is dry his department plans to conduct weekly air quality tests for mold and mildew every Thursday. Results would be returned on Friday, explained Torti.

If we received bad results, then that gives us time to clean and improve the air quality over the weekend, said Torti.

At McCarthy besides, the carpet, there was furniture, classroom libraries, supplies, and even sheetrock damaged.

McCarthy PTO is holding a book drive, collecting funds via PayPal to help teachers replace classroom materials, and holding fundraisers. Click here for more details.

McCarthy Elementary School Principal Matt Hanlon wrote on a school-oriented Facebook page Wednesday that he appreciated all the support.

“Some classrooms lost more than others, while some lost very few. There were a lot of other materials that were lost including games, puzzles, markers, chart paper, small furniture (bookcases), and curriculum material,” wrote Hanlon.

“We hope to be able to let people know how they can help us with this by the end of the week. Again, very appreciative of all the support from the McCarthy Community and the Framingham Community as a whole,” wrote the principal.

King Elementary Issues

Torti said he thinks the water pipes in the four buildings burst between Monday and Tuesday, but he said he has determined that the water burst first at King Elementary.

A thin tube radiation heat pipe froze and then burst in room 112 at the school, flooding the area formerly occupied by the Parent Information Center as well as the lobby. The water then flowed down the walls and into the ceiling tiles and eventually into the kitchen area below.

The good news is that kitchen area has floor drains, so the water did not stagnate.

However, the amount of water, caused some issues with the plaster in the building. Torti said the plaster has “softened.”

As mentioned above, air quality tests were conducted in the school on Thursday. The school has kindergarten and first grade students only. Test results are due on Friday.

On Tuesday, Torti was worried if the kitchen area would pass a Board of Health inspection, but said if that was the only issue the school could still open and food could be brought in from other buildings.

King PTO, like McCarthy PTO, has set up a fund to help the school including ESL teacher Tracy Colby, who lost 95 perecent of her materials. Click here for more details.

Insurance and Cost Estimate

Torti said on Thursday he does not have a cost estimate on the damage at each building or for the district.

On Friday, Torti said he will meet with a contractor experienced with flooding and damage-related issues. He said he would have a “clearer scope of the work” to be done and the “cost estimate” then.

The Framingham Public Schools do not have insurance on the buildings/schools. The Town of Framingham has the insurance policy as the Town owns the buildings.

A claim will be put in, but not everything will be covered, as there is a five-figure deductible.

The Town plans to include all property within the damage rooms and classrooms, in the claim. That would include furniture, books, computers and anything else purchased and owned by the district. It would also include any supplies and property purchased for the school by PTOs and the teachers themselves.

It is unclear at the moment if the deductible would be per school or one for the district claim.

Framingham High & Walsh Middle Damage

A “cart full of Chromebooks” and the keyboard lab at Framingham High were damaged when a pipe in the H wing burst over the long weekend, explained Principal High Principal Elyse Torbert.

“Overall, while this is a huge hit, we are lucky,” said Torbert, referring to the damage at the two elementary schools.

A “frost-free” pipe burst in the guidance department at Walsh Middle School, said Torti, who said that pipe should not have been susceptible to the temperature changes.

In the guidance area, a computer, a phone, a desk, bookcases, and files were all damaged, said Torti.