West Glacier School to reopen on Monday
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 3 months AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | December 15, 2013 5:00 AM
School will resume Monday at West Glacier Elementary following cleanup from a pipe break that produced more than an inch of water in the kitchen, gym and main office areas.
The school has been closed for cleanup since Tuesday when the water damage was discovered.
Tim Prince, project manager for Stat Restoration, said cleanup has proceeded smoothly and expects the building will be dry this weekend. Ceiling and drywall repairs are likely to occur over the week.
West Glacier Principal Cory Pierce said Tuesday that the burst pipe likely resulted from the recent cold snap when temperatures plunged as low as 20 below zero.
Prince anticipates that some of the piping will need to be relocated from the attic down to a warmer zone below a dry ceiling and above a dropped ceiling. He noted that although the pipe is insulated in the attic, it is more susceptible to pockets of cold air.
Prince said cabinets have been ordered to replace damaged ones in the kitchen. Prince added that a majority of carpeting was salvageable and can be rebonded to the floor in areas that have come loose. Prince said the gym floor, which is a thick linoleum, is in good shape.
West Glacier was not the only school affected by burst pipes.
Olney-Bissell Elementary School closed Monday after a minor leak was discovered under the gym floor by a basketball coach during a tournament. School resumed Tuesday, but that night, a custodian discovered a larger burst pipe in a hallway. Olney-Bissell Principal Lona Everett said the pipe had about a two-inch crack.
“We were very fortunate our custodian was on duty that night,” Everett said. “The water was gushing and he was able to get the water shut off.”
Everett said this minimized damage. School closed Wednesday for cleanup and resumed Thursday.
Everett also attributes the pipe breaks to extreme temperatures.
Cost estimates of the damage to either school weren’t available Friday.
For information about school closures visit http://flathead.mt.gov/schools/closures.php.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY HILARY MATHESON
Flathead grad waits for new heart after life-changing diagnosis
Going into finals week, Flathead High School student Katelyn Baughman was ready to graduate early and excited to plan for college. In one night, her life and her family’s lives were upended.
Fair-Mont-Egan and Cayuse Prairie put levy elections before voters
School elections are May 5. Here is a roundup of what’s on the ballot in Fair-Mont-Egan and Cayuse Prairie.
Rural Flathead County school districts put levy elections before voters
School elections are May 5. Here is a roundup of what’s on the ballot in area districts, including Helena Flat, Fair-Mont-Egan, Deer Park and Cayuse Prairie.