After being flooded by broken pipes over the Christmas break, Agnes Gray Elementary School’s cafeteria has dried out, but out of caution, is not being used for the time being.

WEST PARIS — Staff at Agnes Gray got an unwelcome gift over the Christmas break when overhead pipes froze, causing a sprinkler head pipe to burst and flood the school’s gymnasium and cafeteria.

The damage was discovered last Wednesday in the form of at least eight inches of water covering the floor of the cafeteria. Part of the ceiling in the gym gave way, and from there water flowed down the steps leading from the gym to the cafeteria.

Tuesday, school Principal Cathy Bickford told the Advertiser Democrat that classes had resumed that morning with little impact on students. Lunches were served by classroom and gym activities moved outdoors.

“Lunch in class turned out to be a big hit with the kids,” Bickford said. “Some asked if they could do it this way every day. And between our cabin classroom, yurt and outdoor classes, there is plenty we already do outside. Kids already do outdoor activities like snowshoeing the trails.”

Bickford said the spaces are pretty much dried out already but are not being used as Facilities Director Michael Manning and his staff assess the damage and determine what repairs are required.

“Our maintenance crew, the West Paris Fire Department, they worked quickly to get the clean-up done,” she said. “We really appreciate what they were able to do.”

Cold temperatures led to a burst sprinkler system pipe at Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris. Damage to the gymnasium ceiling remains. Supplied photo