Clearview Regional schools are closed today following a boiler blowout at the middle school Thursday night, school officials said.
HARRISON TWP. -- Clearview Regional schools are closed today following a boiler blowout at the middle school Thursday night, school officials said.
"We're just assessing the situation right now," Superintendent John Horchak said early Friday.
These exhaust fans on the roof at Clearview Regional Middle School were blown off their mountings and flipped over by the force of the blowout. (Submitted photo)Gas company representives, insurance adjusters and contractors are at the school trying to determine what happened and how to get the school back in operation.
A pressure buildup between the outside gas line and an internal regulator in the boilers caused an audible boom heard throughout the building around 8 p.m., officials said.
"That created enough pressure to literally create an explosion, albeit a limited one, in the interior of the building," Horchak said.
Cheerleaders and basketball players were in the building at the time, in the nearby gym and all-purpose room, and were evacuated. No injuries were reported, Horchak said.
Horchak and other staff members were at the high school next door hosting a parent night event when the incident occurred. They didn't hear the blowout but were notified by responding police.
The blowout caused the metal housing around five refrigerator-sized boiler units to bow outward. Also, the force of the blowout ripped two exhaust fans located on the roof from their electrical connections and flipped the units over.
Students and teachers were excused from school today, but office staff and maintenance personal are on hand as officials continue to investigate what happened and figure out what to do next.
Schools are already closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, but it's not clear yet it classes will resume on Tuesday. Horchak said a temporary plan will be needed to heat the building until boilers can be repaired or replaced.
These boiler units were installed in 2004 as part of a bond referendum.
The district hopes to have a temporary boiler installed over the weekend on the exterior of the building, Horchak said Friday afternoon. That process will require several inspections and testing before school can resume.
"Hopefully this time tomorrow, we'll have a better idea and a full game plan in place," he said.
While the high school was not affected, both schools were closed in order to keep them on the same schedule, Horchak explained, and to avoid bus transportation issues. Also, some staff members move between both buildings.
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