Plumbing problems force school cancellations in Lexington, Franklin

September 2, 2008 04:50 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Anne Baker and Casey Ramsdell, Globe Correspondents

Talk about lucky. Students at Lexington High School will be able to savor summer a little longer because classes will be canceled for another day -- and possibly for the rest of the week -- after a 250,000-gallon flood in the school's boiler room.

Paul B. Ash, the school superintendent, said it's not clear whether the school will reopen this week because of the damage caused by the flood.

In an email sent to town meeting members this afternoon, school board chairwoman Helen Cohen said "there is significant damage to the electrical system which will most likely have to be replaced."

It is unclear whether the flooding was caused by a burst pipe or the boiler, said Miriam Sousa, Ash's administrative assistant. Classes were canceled today as water was pumped from the school, extending the long weekend for students.

The School Committee planned an emergency meeting at 7:30 tonight to discuss what happened, what the plans are, and when the school can reopen, Cohen said, calling the situation "very difficult." She noted that the high schoolers would have to make up for the missed days in June.

The other schools in the district are open and operating normally.

Classes were also canceled today for roughly 1,000 children in Franklin after a pipe burst over the weekend in a building that houses a middle school, elementary school, and an early childhood development center. Superintendent Wayne Ogden said he expected the Horace Mann Middle and Oak Street Elementary schools to reopen Wednesday.