OXFORD – Harsh weather conditions in recent weeks have frozen, but not burst,  pipes in several SAD 17 buildings, Facilities Director David Marshall said.

With temperatures fluctuating from subzero to more than 40 degrees, Marshall said school officials have been extra vigilant to ensure there’s no damage to school buildings in the eight district towns.

Frozen pipes were found at Hebron Elementary School, Rowe Elementary School annex in Norway and Oxford Hills Middle School in Oxford. They were thawed the same day, insulated more and the water run, preventing further problems, Marshall said.

Efforts are also underway to ensure that this weekend’s predicted heavy rainfall does not put extra weight on snow-covered school roofs.

Marshall said he sent maintenance workers onto roofs Wednesday to measure the amount of snow, but no problems were found.

“Most of the snow has blown off the roofs with the wind, but we’re rechecking because of the (upcoming) rain,” he said.

The weight of snow on school roofs has been a problem in the past. In 2008, a structural engineer examined roofs because of heavy snow. Students in the old Perkins Building, a wing in the Oxford Elementary School, were removed from classes until snow was cleared from the roof.

ldixon@sunjournal.com