Several Rhode Island schools closed Monday because of arctic blast damage

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The arctic blast from over the weekend is in the past, but some Southern New Englanders are still cleaning up from water emergencies after historically cold temperatures left behind significant damage.

Monday, Several Rhode Island schools did not welcome students back in their doors for the day because of damages that ranged from downed power lines to loss of heat.

In Pawtucket, Henry J. Winters Elementary School went remote for the day as cleanup crews worked to fix the damage to the inside of the school. According to school officials, a pipe burst on the third floor Sunday, sometime after a walkthrough by staff to check for any damage.

In total, eight schools across Rhode Island were either closed or meeting virtually Monday, as well as some Massachusetts schools and community service organizations. A full list of school closures can be found here.

In Middletown, Gaudet Middle School students were also learning from home Monday due to heating issues in the building, but the school district told ABC 6 News no other buildings were affected.

Another town damaged from this weekend’s arctic blast included Smithfield, where a power line fell over the weekend at the high school, killing all power in the building, and forced students to go virtual for the day.

The school district posted a statement to its website, telling students not to report to the high school for the day because of the damage inside. Superintendent Dawn Bartz also offered pickup for chrome books to students who needed a laptop for a remote learning day.

Bartz also told ABC 6 she expects all students to be back in the house as soon as Tuesday.