Heating failures at Freetown Elementary lead to one classroom closure; repairs and dehumidification underway

District facilities staff told the committee that Freetown Elementary experienced three separate heating-system incidents over recent weeks, including a coil burst that released steam into a classroom, uneven heating related to inactive dampers and weather stripping failures, and a mixing-valve failure that prevented hot water from circulating on Jan. 10.

Officials said students were not present during the coil burst (which occurred on a weekend) and that the Jan. 10 problem required the district to close the school for a day while staff replaced the mixing valve and restored normal heating. A classroom damaged by the coil burst was dried with heavy-duty dehumidifiers; staff said repainting and final repairs were expected the following week and the room remained out of service until work was complete.

Staff described work to modernize and reactivate building controls, replace cracked weather stripping around dampers, and replace motors and control boards stressed by new commands after years of partial operation. "The system is set up so that these dampers open and pull outside air to cool the room off if it gets above the set temperature, and then close them back up," the facilities presenter said. He added crews have been working alongside routine winter maintenance such as snow and ice clearance.

Nut graf: The committee heard the failures are mostly tied to aging boilers and a control system that had not been fully operational for years; staff said the installations and repairs are improving performance but older boilers remain a concern.

Insurance and costs: Staff said damage to teacher and student supplies from the incidents did not meet the district's insurance threshold and were handled internally; the district reported recent large claims and noted insurance premiums have increased in recent years. Staff said a separate pending insurance/segregation claim related to a prior roofing contractor may lead to some long-term premium relief if resolved in the district's favor.

Ending: Facilities staff said they are monitoring heating-oil usage closely and will continue building-control upgrades; the committee also discussed planning for a possible study of the district's pool/grounds at a future meeting.