School officials seek long-term fix after latest Thoreau fire

With classrooms at Thoreau Elementary School expected to undergo extensive repairs after last month’s fire, district leaders say they’re looking to redesign the heating and sprinkler system that caused two fires in the last five years.

“We’re not putting this system back the way it was,” schools Superintendent Laurie Hunter told the Regional School Committee on May 6.

The fire broke out April 27 in an attic space above classrooms. Hunter said the attic contains sprinkler lines heated by space heaters, a setup that has caused multiple problems over the years.

One heater caused a major fire about five years ago, she said, leading to months of repairs, including rebuilding classrooms. 

Two years later, Hunter said, pipes burst during frigid weather because the heaters were insufficient. 

Last month’s fire stemmed from “the same problem, different heater,” Hunter said.

‘Down to the studs’

Although the sprinkler system extinguished the fire more quickly this time, officials said, the resulting water damage was extensive.

“We expect four rooms to go back down to the studs,” Hunter said. “The other four are going to have some level of replacement walls.”

School officials relocated many classrooms and programs, including moving classes into the library and music room. Traveling art, Spanish, and library programs are being taught from carts trundled between classrooms.

Hunter said the district chose to keep students in the building for the remaining school days rather than bring back modular classrooms used after the 2021 fire.

“It’s really tight,” she said. “If it was longer than another five weeks, it would be a whole [other] story.”

Four affected classrooms were used for the school’s Pathways program for students with high needs. The other affected rooms were for kindergarten and second grade classes. Hunter praised teachers and staff for quickly reorganizing the building.

“The kids didn’t lose a beat,” she said. “They lost one day and were back.”

Thoreau Principal Justin Sparks wrote in an email bulletin to families last Friday that “learning is continuing, and we remain focused on supporting both students and teachers as we finish the year strong.”

At the same time, Sparks said, “the ’94 wing is a very active space right now. Contractors, school and town officials are in and out, and demolition work has begun. We also have tents and storage pods on campus.”

Looking at options

The district brought in architects from SMMA, the firm that designed the Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School, to study possibilities.

Options under consideration include a dry suppression system, spray foam insulation, or lowering sprinkler lines into classrooms instead of leaving them in the attic space, Hunter said.

“Just need to find out what will work, what the cost is, and then hear what the recommendations are,” said Robert Conry, assistant superintendent for finance and operations. 

To get the funds, some other projects will have to be shelved. 

“We’re going to give up the parking lot at Thoreau, leave it the way it is, funnel the money over to whatever we’re planning,” Hunter said. 

The green space for the new playground will continue as planned.

The district’s goal, Hunter said, is to complete repairs before the next school year.