Winters Elementary in Pawtucket to remain closed through winter break

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The Pawtucket School Committee made the decision Tuesday night to keep the brand new Henry J. Winters Elementary School closed through winter break.

The district said the arctic blast from two weeks ago caused a pipe to burst. Since then, students have been remote learning.

In total, 23 classrooms were damaged, said the Pawtucket School Department.

Last week, acting Superintendent Lisa Bendetti-Ramzi told ABC 6 News that “it’s disappointing, it’s incredibly frustrating, it’s disappointing, and it’s not anything that we could’ve foreseen, or even planned for.”

The Gilbane Building Company said it’s working closing with the district to “oversee the completion of repairs as fast as possible to restore this school and put students back in the classroom.”

Winters Elementary is expected to reopen Feb. 27.