PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — Henry J. Winters Elementary School students will continue learning from home after a pipe burst over the weekend and flooded parts of the building.
Acting Superintendent Lisa Benedetti-Ramzi announced Tuesday afternoon that distance learning will continue for the remainder of the week as crews work to make repairs and clean up the damage.
Benedetti-Ramzi told 12 News that one wing of the building sustained widespread damage.
“We are trying to determine the cause of the failure and the extent of the damage,” Benedetti-Ramzi said. “It does appear as though weather may have been a factor, but we can’t determine that as a fact at this point. We have engineers coming in and out of the building.”
Benedetti-Ramzi said the school quickly shifted to distance learning after staff noticed the water Monday morning.
The district will provide meals at certain drive-up locations for those who need them. Additional information will be sent out to families.
The new school had just opened in the fall but wasn’t the only school to experience weather-related damage over the weekend.
Smithfield High School students will have a second day of remote learning after pipes burst there over the weekend.
Schools in Middletown and North Kingstown were also impacted.
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