R.C. Garnett Demonstration Elementary in Willoughby was closed Monday morning due to the sprinklers going off and areas will be closed off for at least this week as restoration is done.
According to a letter from principal Cathy Anderson and vice principal Adam Woelders, a heating unit malfunctioned and raised the temperature enough in the building to trip the sprinklers.
“Eight classrooms, the library, the East Atrium, and meeting rooms are all affected by water damage, and will require restoration which will take most of this week,” they said.
Langley School District communications manager Ken Hoff said it's too soon to know the cost of the damage but lots of people are working to get things back to normal.
Five divisions of students will be transported from Garnett to Lynn Fripps Elementary temporarily.
“We are sending divisions of teachers who have a volunteered to be re-located at Lynn Fripps,” they said.
Other divisions are being relocated within the school. Also impacted is the parking, pick-up and drop-off areas.
The restoration and district vehicles will need the parking areas. As well the space is needed for the buses taking students to and from Lynn Fripps.
“Parent vehicle access to the property will be extremely limited,” the letter from the principal and vice principal noted.
Parents are being asked to drop students off away from school grounds. The overflow lot at the Shepherd of the Valley Church on 72nd Avenue has access for anyone who needs to park a vehicle.