Oswego East High School will stay closed Tuesday after drain pipe malfunction during weekend storms

Oswego East High School will remain closed Tuesday because of flooding at the school following a drain pipe malfunction during severe storms that occurred over the weekend.

As a result of the malfunction, a large volume of water entered the building rapidly and caused damage on multiple floors, district officials said.

A team of restoration professionals remains on site and they are working around the clock to clean and dry the facility, officials said.

An e-learning schedule will again be in effect. Individual sponsors and coaches will reach out to students in regards to extracurricular activities.

E-learning will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The full schedule can be found at oehs.sd308.org/Our-School/Information/Schedule.

Several other schools in the district also experienced water damage. At Oswego High School, standing water impacted the gymnasium, athletic office and surrounding hallways. A remediation company is assisting with drying efforts while a specialist is evaluating the condition of the gym floor to determine the extent of the damage, officials said.

Portions of the gym will remain unusable in the immediate future.

Long Beach Elementary School also sustained damage. One section of the building is currently unusable after water compromised the walls, flooring and insulation.

Eight other schools across the district experienced minor leaks and water damage, officials said. District and building engineers have addressed water extraction and deployed fans and dehumidifiers to ensure all affected areas are fully dried and safe for use.

In the the coming weeks, air quality monitoring and testing will take place in all affected buildings to ensure lingering moisture does not result in microbial growth, officials said.

“Beyond this storm, the challenges also highlight the reality of aging buildings throughout the district,” officials said in a statement. “Due to financial constraints, proactive maintenance was postponed for many years, leaving the district to address urgent issues as they arise rather than preventing them.”

Officials pointed out that several cooling systems are no longer functioning as intended, which has required ongoing patchwork fixes to avoid moisture accumulation and keep temperatures comfortable.

“We are grateful for the quick response of our facilities and operations teams, district and school leaders, and outside restoration professionals, who are working tirelessly to restore our schools,” District 308 Superintendent Andalib Khelghati said. “The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will continue to communicate updates as we learn more about the extent of the repairs needed and spaces that are impacted.”