School District Goal: 'All Classrooms Ready To Go Come Monday'

Despite heavy water damage at McCarthy Elementary School, due to a frozen pipe that burst, Framingham Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano told staff today the “goal is to have all classrooms ready to go come Monday.”

Tuesday, Framingham Public School leaders discovered that pipes had burst in four schools (McCarthy Elementary, King Elementary, Wash Middle, and Framingham High), causing “widespread” damage, according to the district’s director of buildings and grounds.

McCarthy had the most damage of the four schools, and the district’s director of Buildings and Grounds was most worried about whether that K-5 school could re-open after school vacation week, yesterday.

“As you may know, the McCarthy School was one of four schools in Framingham to sustain water damage due to compromised water pipes. Yesterday morning, custodial crew members entered the building to find 1-2 inches of water on the floor in the hallway and classrooms in the B-Wing. Right now, (Principal) Matt, (Assistant Principal) Jean, and several of your colleagues and family members are assessing and moving classroom materials while members of our operations and facilities departments are working to find the most efficient and safest manner in which to have that wing ready for next Monday. If you have experienced a similar situation in your own home, you know how disruptive and time consuming this can be,” wrote Tiano to McCarthy staff members on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

“Once the damage has been thoroughly assessed and the re-entry options have been fully exhausted, we will update you regarding the plan,” wrote Tiano.

Less than 24 hours after learning about the damage, McCarthy Pto started collecting books to replace the damaged classroom libraries and considering fundraising options. Click here for more details.

King Elementary

King Elementary Principal Kim Taylor was visiting her school today to assess the damage, she told Patch.

A thin tube radiation heat pipe froze and then burst in room 112 at the school.

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

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.