WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Madison Middle School going remote today because of pipe break; back to in-person Wednesday

8:32 AM: Just in – Madison Middle School‘s principal has messaged families to announce that the school is going remote today because of a pipe problem. Here’s the message parents forwarded to us:

Overnight, a pipe burst in our building. Fortunately, the district facilities team is working to clean up the water and fix the pipe.

Because of this work, we will transition to remote learning today, January 16, with students at home engaged in remote learning.

Your student should have brought home their device last week. Please have your student sign in to their school accounts to look for updates and resources from their teacher or school staff.

Student Meals: families may pick up a sack meal at the school today from 10 a.m. until noon.

I will follow up with families as more information becomes available.

The message was timestamped less than an hour before the scheduled start of classes. We’re checking with the district to see when the problem was found and how extensive it is/was.

9 AM: Commenters say Madison families have just received another text saying that remote classes will start two hours late.

3:53 PM: The SPS media office says they won’t have answers to our questions, such as when the break happened, where, and how much damage was don, before tomorrow. They do say they expect word this afternoon on whether in-person classes will resume tomorrow.

5:30 PM: According to the SPS media office, in-person classes will resume tomorrow (Wednesday, January 17).

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: A district spokesperson responded today to our questions about when the break happened, where, and how much damage: “We can’t be sure when it actually broke, but it was found Tuesday morning. It broke in the ceiling above Classroom L221. There are 6 classrooms, an office, some mechanical spaces and a hallway impacted. Carpet, floor tile, walls and ceiling all got wet. There were also some books and other teaching materials that were damaged.”

LT January 16, 2024 (8:54 am)

They also *just* texted us to inform us that it’s a 2-hour late start.There needs to be a district mandate that communications like this can’t go out less than an hour before school starts (first email at 8:14, which I don’t check, first text at 8:16am when my tween was already at the bus stop).Surely they must have known before this? Does no one enter the building an hour or more before school starts? If not then that’s something for them to consider.

WSB January 16, 2024 (9:00 am)

I’m asking the district why the late notice. About 15 minutes before the first forward we got, a dad called us to say a bus driver had told his daughter school was closed today. Neither he nor I could find any info confirming that and the school phone wasn’t being answered. To date the school website is not yet updated, nor is there any messaging on X (ex-Twitter).
- Watermelon January 16, 2024 (9:18 am)
  
  I would like to understand why each district doesn’t send out emails to all teachers to leave the water faucet in their classroom dripping if the forecast is extreme cold weather is predicted so frozen water pipes are prevented and the janitor or principal or vice principal also do the same thing to all sinks in the bathrooms in the schools. When I worked for a very large school district before any long break staff was sent an email to unplug everything in the classroom to save electricity.
  - High Point January 16, 2024 (10:53 am)
    
    Because teachers are responsible for teaching children not stopping pipes from freezing. I completely understand that it seems like a small ask to ensure faucets are dripping, but to add that to a teachers task list seems a bit much (I’m saying this WAY more kindly then I’m thinking it). Classified staff on the other hand, sure. Go through the classrooms and make sure pipes are dripping.
    - s January 16, 2024 (3:04 pm)
      
      It takes all of six seconds to drip your faucet. Much less time than cleaning up a flooded classroom.
    - Tae January 16, 2024 (3:28 pm)
      
      And if the teachers are already home for the day or for the weekend when the district (or teachers) find out there will be freezing weather? Should we expect them get to the school to set faucets to drip? What else do we want teachers to do? Many already are doing well more than their requirements including many expect them to raise their children SMH.
    - Ramona January 17, 2024 (6:20 pm)
      
      Thank you very much for acknowledging that teachers are already doing enough. People are quick to add one more little thing for us to do, and the list keeps getting longer and longer and longer. Thank you for your support!
  - wsteacher January 16, 2024 (7:35 pm)
    
    Maybe the district should have looked at the forecast and kept the heat on in the building (much better than asking the teachers to drip the faucets). The district operations turn off the heat or at least WAY down on weekends and holidays. My office space at a West Seattle school was the same temp as outside today. I never took off my coat or gloves except when I needed to type.

Wsmom January 16, 2024 (8:55 am)

Madison families just got an updated text via talking points that says its also 2 hour late start in addition to the remote learning. Initial message did not mention delayed start

*********
.Madison Middle School: Good morning Madison families! Due to flooding in the building, we are transitioning to remote learning today. There will be a 2 hour late start. Thank you for your flexibility.

Jason January 16, 2024 (8:56 am)

Messaging seems confusing but mostly consistent. There was an 8:18 message (from area code 415) that stated “…students will switch to remote learning today because of a burst pipe in out building….” The 8:45AM message from area code 209 was much briefer but said in part, “Due to flooding in the building we are transition to remote learning today, there will be a 2 hour late start.”

madison parent January 16, 2024 (2:32 pm)

just wanted to give props to the teachers who have been preparing students for days like this. my kid said they’d been told several times that if there was going to be remote learning, the first remote day was scheduled to be a two-hour delayed start.

Community January 16, 2024 (2:50 pm)

Staff had already reported to work and did not know there was a closure. Staff and students found out at roughly the same time. It looks like the district responded quickly and efficiently given that hardly any students showed up in the morning.

Ivan January 16, 2024 (8:53 pm)

Previously working for the district as a maintenance plumber, found that when we wanted to fix problems the money isn’t available. We all focus on the hardship this caused our daily life and should be grateful we are able to mop things up repair what’s needed. Maybe all focus should be on a solution of the problem at hand rather than pointing blame.

KW January 16, 2024 (10:43 pm)

Was it a but last minute, sure. Was I pleasantly surprised when my son already knew what to do bc teachers had been prepping them for weeks/months, absolutely! Good job teachers. Situation was managed well.

R January 17, 2024 (6:22 pm)

Thank you for the support for our teachers. Teaching has NEVER been more challenging, and every positive comment goes a long way. You are appreciated.

Sorry, comment time is over.