Marple Newtown superintendent reports sprinkler malfunction that flooded classrooms, students evacuated

Tina Kane, who spoke to the board from a superintendent’s conference, reported that a sprinkler head malfunctioned at the high school on Monday morning, sending large volumes of water into classrooms and nearby hallways and activating the fire alarm. Students evacuated and followed established procedures, Kane said, and staff secured students and property while emergency and operations teams coordinated next steps.

"The amount of water that comes out of them is, extreme," Kane said, describing the speed and scale of the flooding. She said the district’s restoration contractor cleaned affected spaces and an environmental specialist performed air-quality testing to determine whether rooms are safe to reenter.

Kane said the fire department permitted students to relocate to the gymnasium and auditorium while staff arranged transportation and supervision. She noted logistical challenges such as returning students’ belongings, including car keys, and police assistance managing car lines as parents picked up children.

The district reported that the Pennsylvania Department of Education counted Monday as a day of school and that administrators were waiting to hear whether the department will grant an emergency waiver for the current day. Kane said work to isolate and repair damaged areas will include temporary plastic barriers to keep students out of work zones.

The district did not report any injuries in the committee discussion. Kane thanked staff, students and families for their cooperation during an event she characterized as fast-moving, and said restoration and air-quality testing were being used to determine when affected spaces will be safe for students to return.