by Steven Vetter, Managing Editor
BENNETT — Plans to have a broken sewer line in the cafeteria area of Bennett Elementary repaired this week will not come to fruition as the problem is said to be more severe than once thought.
The area has been cordoned off from student access and will not be available for food service duties until after the Christmas break; however, the elementary school will remain open for classes until the district releases them for the holidays Dec. 20.
Food service will continue to serve easy-to-prepare meals — for example corn dogs, sandwiches and salad — with disposable plates and utensils.
“The cooks can’t get into do what they can normally do and we can’t use the dishwasher because of the sewer line,” said Bennett Superintendent Robin Purdy. “But our food service director and her staff have been rock stars in adapting and coming up with a plan to still nourish our students. We will be back with hot breakfast and lunches when we get back from break.”
Purdy said there was a possibility that the elementary could have closed for the first two days of next week to allow a repair crew to start its work earlier but, added that it wasn’t fair to the education of students and their families, who have made plans to attend holiday events Monday and Tuesday.
Whether the repairs to the sewer over break are temporary or permanent won’t be known until further investigation of the problem.
“Hopefully, they can tear up the tile and install a new pipe but, in case that is going to be more extensive, maybe they will sleeve it and come back to make final permanent repairs in the summer,” Purdy said. “We just won’t know until they get down in there.”
The break occurred mid-afternoon Dec. 7. Purdy said it appears the pipe burst was the result of age and wear-and-tear and not because of the frigid cold temperatures that ultimately led to the closing of school Dec. 8 to protect the health and safety of students, particularly those on bus routes.
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