Oak Hill High School science teacher Ryan Crocker sifts through debris in his classroom Monday afternoon. Several areas throughout the school had significant water damage after pipes burst over the weekend. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
WALES — Prekindergarten classes in Litchfield were canceled Monday and high school students in Wales were moved to remote learning in Regional School Unit 4 due to water damage caused by the extreme cold over the weekend.
Since Saturday, several pipes and sprinkler heads have burst at Oak Hill High School in Wales, flooding classrooms, hallways and the kitchen.
A chemistry classroom sustained significant damage after a pipe in the ceiling burst, according to Superintendent Katy Grondin. Water has also been leaking near the school’s computer server, creating concern.
School staff and technicians began repairing the utilities and cleaning up the water early this morning. Once their initial fixes were complete, the water was turned on, but it took just 25 minutes for another pipe to burst.
“The high school did not weather well,” Grondin said.
High school students were moved to remote learning while repairs are made, flooded areas are dried, and damage is assessed, Grondin said. Remote classes will continue Tuesday.
A pipe also burst this weekend at Libby Tozier Primary School in Litchfield, flooding both prekindergarten classrooms. Prekindergarten classes were canceled but will resume Tuesday.
RSU 4 serves students in Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales.
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