Schools planning to open, with precautions, on Monday

By Matt Byrne, Globe Staff

Area public school officials say they plan to open for classes tomorrow, despite a region-wide order to boil water as a result of a massive pipe break.

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The breach in Weston

• Schools planning to open Monday
• DeLeo calls for pipe break investigation
• Dirty water? Tell us how you're coping
• Demand for bottled water surges
• Workers repairing water pipe; Boil order still in effect
• Residents, businesses race to adapt
• Some questions you need answers to
• Failure came before backup could be finished
• Fenway Frank maker postpones production
• Graphic Map of the MWRA water system

In Boston, most schools have hand sanitizer and bottled water, according to Matthew Wilder, Boston School Department spokesman. He said school officials are delivering bottled water to schools that do not already have it.

“We certainly have safeguards in place that will cause a minimal amount of disruption to schools, in terms of food service and things like that,” he said.

Many cafeterias use outside vendors that heat up pre-made meals, thereby reducing the risk, he said.

City staffers from the mayor’s 24-hour hotline have been responding to many of the calls from concerned parents, Wilder said.

“They are saying the same thing we’re saying—come to school tomorrow, and we’re ready to serve the children of our city.”

Several suburban school districts also said they plan to open schools tomorrow, but are taping up water fountains and taking other precautions to make sure pupils do not drink untreated water. Some were instructing parents to send children to school with bottled water; others were asking parents to donate wipes and hand sanitizer.

Matt Byrne can be reached at thomasbyrne@globe.com