Winters Elementary to open Tuesday, 6 days after anticipated

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Students at Henry J. Winters Elementary School will be heading back to the classroom Tuesday after a six-day delay.

Pawtucket Superintendent, Dr. Cheryl McWilliams announced Saturday that the department was granted a Certificate of Occupancy, clearing classes to start.

“We are so excited for the Winters community about their first day, Tuesday. We are ready to move forward together to have a great school year in this brand new, state-of-the-art elementary school,” McWilliams wrote in a statement.

The school was originally slated to open Wednesday, but that date had to be pushed back. The Pawtucket School Committee said earlier this week that a failed fire alarm battery was what caused the pushback.

Mayor Don Grebien told ABC 6 News on Wednesday that he regretted not having backup plans for the school’s opening.

“We should’ve been out last week saying hey the parts not in or we’re not going to have it connected and by the way we’re three days out to get that, so parents are now frustrated, rightfully so, concerned like we are going, get up this morning I don’t have any plans for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. What do I do, and that’s the challenge,” the mayor said.