King Elementary PTO Helping ESL Teacher, School After Burst Pipe Causes Damage

Tuesday morning, custodians discovered a water pipe had froze and burst at King Elementary School.

King was one of four elementary schools in the Framingham Public School district with burst pipes and water problems on Tuesday.

King ESL teacher Tracy Colby lost 95 perecent of her materials, said King principal Kim Taylor.

The PTO is rallying around her and have “organized a direct donation campaign through PayPal to assist with the replacement of Ms. Colby’s instructional supplies, which included books, teaching games, posters, and bulletin board sets, said Taylor.

The public can donate money via PayPal using ptokingelementary@gmail.com as the recipient. It’s important to select “friends or family” as the payment type, so no fees are assessed.

“This is just another example of the teamwork that our school community can show. I am proud to lead a community that steps up to make our school even stronger, especially in times of need,” said Taylor Thursday afternoon.

Air quality tests were conducted at King Elementary and McCarthy Elementary today, said Framingham Building & Grounds Director Matt Torti. Results will be available tomorrow, Feb. 19.

The two schools had the most damaged out of the four. The others schools with damage from burst pipes were Framingham High and Walsh Middle.

Torti on Tuesday called the situation “so widespread” and “catastrophic.” He said it is 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 Tuesday afternoon.

At King Elementary, which has kindergarten and first grade classes, thin tube radiation heat pipe froze and then burst in room 112 at the school, explained Torti.

Damage at King was in the former Parent Information Center area of the building, in the entrance lobby and the lobby downstairs, said Torti.

Torti said water flooding the offices on the main level drained below into the school’s cafeteria area.

And, there may be possible damage to the elevator pit, said Torti.

All the furnishings in the former Parent Information area were damaged, said Torti, as well as the carpet.

Torti said the school should re-open on Monday, but that the kitchen may not be available. He said it will need to pass a Board of Health inspection, as there was damage to that area.

Worst case the school could re-open on Monday, but meals would need to be trucked in from another location, explained Torti on Tuesday.