CHS Generator Down — School Open, Email Server Down

Updated: 12:53 The following message was sent to district families at 12:45: The School District's servers are down again due to electrical problems at the high school, so email is not working at any of the schools. The District has asked that we let all parents know that email is down and if they need to contact anyone in the District, they should do so by phone. Any emails that have been sent already may notget through at all. So if there is information you need to send by email, please resend on Monday.

The District is working to solve the problem, and we hope normal
communications will resume next week.

Updated 10:45 a.m.: This message was sent simultaneously by SchoolMessenger (and read by CHS Principal Lovie Lilly) and released to media by District Communications Office Judith Levy: "As 7:10 a.m. Columbia High School was evacuated due to an electrical problem in the B wing. The Maplewood Fire Dept. investigated the area, and the decision was made to close only that section of the school until power is restored to that wing. Electricians are on site and are working on the situation. The remainder of the school is unaffected. It is a full day of school. Classes that normally meet in the B wing have been relocated to other parts of the building. The safety of our staff and students is our first priority, and we are grateful for everyone's cooperation during this inconvenience."

Levy's message added, "We are treating it as a normal school day. Students are learning."

Updated 10:30 a.m.: Beth Daugherty, Board of Education President, released the following information, "The B wing at CHS lost power again this morning. Adjustments have been made so that classes are being held in other parts of the building and CHS students will remain for a full day. The phone system is working, but the servers are down so district email and data systems are down. A more detailed update will be provided later."

Students at Columbia High School are reporting that the generator powering the B wing of the building "blew" this morning as they were reporting to school, in some cases causing lightbulbs to pop.

As a result, the school administration stopped allowing students into the high school for a period of time this morning — as reported by students and parents. However, as of 9 a.m., students were being allowed back into the building although the B wing continued to be without power. Students are starting with second period.

The B wing has been closed off with caution tape, and students are not allowed to enter for any reason — including accessing their lockers. More than a dozen workers were on site at generator after 9 a.m. 

On Sept. 12, school at CHS was Students had a half day on Sept. 13 while a backup generator was installed; this is the generator that ceased to function this morning. It is located in the parking lot off of Academy Street.

Maplewood Police Department and Fire Department personnel were on site early this morning.