MOSES LAKE – North Elementary was closed Wednesday after an unforeseen water issue where sediment got into the schools' pipelines. The school was supposed to reopen Monday. However, because testing done by the Grant County Health District will not be done until Monday, the school will remain closed, Moses Lake School District’s Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said. 

“We are hoping to be open by Tuesday,” Shannon said. “We need to allow the health district to complete their tests first though.” 

The issue started Wednesday when the city, which has construction nearby, opened a fire hydrant and debris got into the water. Then, when teachers started to arrive at around 8:30 a.m., an unfamiliar smell had filled the building, which caused MLSD to make the decision to bus students to an alternative location. The Grant County Health District is now testing the water in the area. 

Shannon said educational services for the school will be suspended Friday, however the district will have instruction materials available for pick up Monday. The pickup times for students are: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. If none of the listed times work, there will also be materials picked up at the Learning Services Center anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

The district will be providing breakfast and lunch for students for pickup. The food will be handed out from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. daily in front of the school.