'We literally had water dripping from the ceiling'
CLATSKANIE, Ore. - Water and hot steam have ruined $250,000 worth of books inside a school's library - and the damage did not stop there.
A heating coil on a radiator broke sometime over the weekend, perhaps even Friday night, inside the library at Clatskanie Elementary School. And by the time it was discovered, the room was like a sauna and the floor was covered in water.
"It's awful," said Connie Sims, the school's librarian. "We literally had water dripping from the ceiling."
The library houses more than 10,000 books and the steam not only got into them, but in everything else (like posters, furniture, computers and globes). Water even seeped into the school cafeteria next to the library.
Restoration crews drilled holes in the walls and pumped in hot air to try and dry everything out. Every book has to be checked page by page and there is a bigger concern now - mold.
"The faster we can process this and get ahead of it, the better our chances of preventing that," said school superintendent James Sager. "When we're all done, we'll have the air quality tested just to make sure we have prevented any mold growth in this space to protect the staff and students."
Photo courtesy Clatskanie Elementary School.
At this point it's unknown when the library will be open again. In the meantime, the kids are making due with the small libraries they have in each classroom.
"We've been in contact with the local public library," said Sager. "They're going to help out as much as they can, but this is a major impact to kids who love to read."
"It's going to be some time before we know just how extensive the damage is," said Sims.
The school district is not asking for book donations because insurance may cover the damage.
I'm sure the housekeeping staff has their hands full with this problem. Thes unsung heroes are busy behind the scenes making it all turn out well.
Don't mess around with mold from my experience, you could have years of health problems!
So, I am not sure why these posts are here. Cindy B,  in order for everything to work out the best possible way for the school district, regarding insurance, the rules must be followed. You have no idea what the overwhelming feelings are in our little town. The kids are sad. They have lost a large part of our school. When things get straightened out, I am sure that donations would be welcome. Can you imagine the mess right now? I am sure that there are certain rules for what can and cannot be done. It would be wise for us to make sure we know all the guidelines before something is done incorrectly.Â
And someone complaining about how something is phrased?  Give me a break.Â
"Banning water from school". It may not be an important article to those of you making fun, but it is to us. Please make intelligent comments.Â
 @duck fan Let's try again.
1. I was raised in a small town.
2. I raised children in a different small town, plus more foster placements than people want to know.
3. I served on public school budget committees and attend board meetings for YEARS.
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I do know what it is like to have major events happen in a small town; lived through several fires, deaths in the woods, horrible mill accidents ... all of the things which happen in small towns. Don't go there with me, Duck.
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I taught in a small school. I donated books to schools. Your school does not want book donations because they are afraid of the insurance implications, real or perceived. FINE.Â
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Donate books to the local library. Keeping life as normal as possible is a positive thing for your community. People will recover more quickly. And the kids will see the community coming together.
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Challenges are opportunities for growth. Lead the growth Duck.
Looking at several sentences independently:
1. Water and hot steam have ruined $250,000 worth of books inside a school's library;
2. At this point it's unknown when the library will be open again;
3. the kids are making due with the small libraries they have in each classroom;
4. "We've been in contact with the local public library, They're going to help out as much as they can, but this is a major impact to kids who love to read.";
5.The school district is not asking for book donations because insurance may cover the damage.
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The kids love reading/books but the school doesn't want donated books because insurance MAY cover the damages. REALLY?! Donate the books to the local public library and let them set up a traveling book collection to the school ... for the kids who like to read and DO NOT have easy access to a full library.
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Grammar gets away from me. Point 3: making due or making do?
As opposed to "figuratively had water dripping from the ceiling."
Obviously water needs to be banned from school. It damages and is responsible for multiple deaths worldwide each day. C'mon Hales, get on it please before more needless destruction is caused by assault water!
@Peregrine What does Hales have to do with this? He's not the mayor of Clatskanie...Portland, remember? I think Diane Pohl is mayor of Clatskanie. Just sayin'....
@Peregrine                          Probably easier to ban water than assault weps.