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Lake View Elementary restrooms out of service after sewer collapse; district plans spring-break repairs and summer replacements
Summary
A collapsed buried cast-iron sewer line left multiple restrooms at Lake View Elementary unusable; district facilities officials plan to cut into concrete during spring break, vacuum debris and reline pipes to reopen restrooms, with full tunnel pipe replacement scheduled for summer.
District facilities staff told the board that a mainline sewer break at Lake View Elementary caused cast-iron buried sewer lines to collapse and admit gravel and dirt to the pipe, putting several restrooms out of service and limiting the kitchen to plain water only.
Corey Thompson, district facilities director, said crews stabilized the system enough to allow kitchen sinks to run but the northwest quad restrooms, staff restrooms and certain building drains remained unusable. Thompson told the board contractors plan to cut a roughly 6-ft-square access hole in the floor during spring break, install a cleanout, vacuum out debris and then reline the damaged buried pipe with an epoxy filament liner so restrooms can reopen.
"Everything goes well, we can have the restrooms back up and usable after spring break," Thompson said, describing the immediate plan. He added that tunnel-access cast-iron lines will then be replaced during the summer, and that the district intends to use camera inspections to prioritize preventative maintenance across other older buildings such as North Park and two middle schools.
Parents who spoke during public comment urged permanent solutions. Lake View PTA communications officer Rachel Storm told the board, "At this moment, Lake View only has three functioning bathrooms, 600 students, and a whole bunch of adults in that building," and described how limited facilities can create barriers for vulnerable learners, including a second grader with level-two autism.
Board members pressed staff on timing and disruption during repairs. Thompson said the contractor expects to complete the spring-break work without impeding student movement and that the exposed floor area will be safe for passage even if final tile replacement occurs later. The district also plans camera inspections to identify additional sections that may need relining or replacement in future summer work.
Next steps: crews will proceed with the spring-break access cut, debris removal and epoxy lining to restore restroom function; staff will return to the board with follow-up plans, camera-inspection results and summer replacement estimates for both tunnel and buried lines.
