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Water main break forces early dismissal, evacuation drill at HMS; crews repair sinkhole
Summary
District officials said a water-main leak and resulting sinkhole at HMS required an early dismissal; facilities staff made temporary repairs and planned permanent work to restore service and reopen the campus.
Superintendent Daniels and district facilities staff told the board a water-main break near HMS created a sinkhole large enough to affect campus infrastructure and required sending one campus’s students home early while crews located and repaired the leak.
What happened: Administrators said buses were already en route to schools when facilities staff discovered the leak, which affected the nurse’s office, cafeteria and at least two pods. Because the campus could not prepare lunches and two pods lacked water, the district sent HMS students home early that morning.
Facilities response and repair: Facilities staff located the leak roughly 20–30 yards from the visible water; crews dug and found a sinkhole described as approximately the size of the superintendent’s office (the presenter later described it as ‘as big as my house’). The district performed a temporary repair to restore service and scheduled a full repair over the weekend. District crews completed much of the work in-house and avoided outside plumbing contractors; administrators said that will save “tens of thousands of dollars.”
Evacuation and safety procedures: The superintendent said the incident became an impromptu campus evacuation drill. Buses were marshaled and SROs directed traffic; staff instructed students to open backpacks, power on phones and await parental pickup if requested. Administrators said the campus evacuated in about 30–34 minutes and praised staff for the effective response.
Why it matters: The leak exposed a sinkhole and risk to traffic and buildings. District officials said their in-house crews were able to stabilize the site and coordinate a permanent repair while minimizing cost and disruption.
Ending note: Administrators said the full repair would proceed if weather cooperated and that they expected the campus to reopen for instruction once permanent repairs were complete; no disciplinary or liability actions were recorded in the meeting minutes.
