UPDATED: Pipes Burst at 4 Framingham Schools

Originally posted at 2:25 p.m. on Feb. 16. I will continue to update with more details on the damage.

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The hard freeze and the quick thaw over the weekend caused pipes to burst in four Framingham Public Schools causing significant damage in one school, that the Director of Building and Ground is not sure if it can open after school vacation week.

Framingham Director of Buildings and Grounds Matt Torti called the situation “so widespread” and “catastrophic.” He said it is nothing he has seen in his 16 years at the district. He said the district has had pipe issues in the past, but never to this extent.

Torti said he could not place a dollar value on the damage, at this time.

He said the town’s insurance company has been notified. They are assessing the damage, and cleaning up.

Torti said 3 dozen buildings and grounds employees and several subcontractors were at McCarthy Elementary School this morning, which had the most damage.

Employees encountered 1-2 inches of water flooding the B wing, including 9 classrooms on the first floor, said Torti.

Torti said a pipe burst flooding the wing with 1-2 inches of water, soaking the sheetrock, the carpet, the bookcases, the doors, the furniture, etc. He said they need to access the damage and then begin the cleanup. Torti said no computers were damaged at the elementary school.

The next serious situation is at King Elementary School.

Torti said the school should re-open on Monday, but that the kitchen may not be available. He said it will need to pass a Board of Health inspection, as there was damage to that area. Worst case the school could re-open on Monday, but meals would need to be trucked in from another location, explained Torti.

Damage at King Elementary also was in the former Parent Information Center area of the building, in the entrance lobby and the lobby downstairs, said Torti. There is also damage possibly to the elevator pit, said Torti.

All the furnishings in the former PIC area were damaged, said Torti, as well as the carpet.

Torti explained a section of a thin tube heat pipe froze and then burst in room 112 at King.

Framingham High School has water damaged issues in the H wing, where the arts and music departments are located. The auditorium was not damaged, said Torti.

In room H114, all the computers and keyboards were damaged said Torti. The carpets were soaked and the director’s office was damaged, said Torti.

At Walsh Middle School, a “frost-free” pipe burst in the guidance department, said Torti.

In that area, a computer, phone, desk, bookcases, and files were all damaged.

Framingham Patch will update this report as we get more details.