Maine Elementary School Closes Without Warning

Unless you were lucky enough to be one of the first classes through a particular school, most of us went to schools that had issues.  Maybe the heating system was not perfect, the windows did not open, or some of the floor tiles were missing.  However, these were all minor issues, so we were never in danger by attending school.

This was not the case at one Oxford County school.

According to an article on the WGME website, the Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris is now closed over concerns about the safety of the school building.

Apparently, an architect was hired to inspect the 130-year-old structure.  That person said that the building was unsafe for students and staff.  When the district's superintendent, Heather Manchester, found out about the condition of the school, she said she had no choice but to close it.

The architect reportedly found numerous problems with the school.  The roof is failing, the floor needs replacing, the plumbing is outdated, the school needs a new boiler, and the school needs replacement parts for its fire suppression system

Additionally, the school is not ADA compliant.

The district has not decided whether or not money will be put into the needed repairs for the school.  At this point, the plan is to find a temporary school location.

Unfortunately, until this new location can be found, this has left many families in limbo.  Students are sitting around home instead of sitting in class.  And this has forced parents who rely on school as childcare to take time off from work.