Students Spell Relief: B-U-S

It was probably the longest 10-minute bus ride that Roosevelt Elementary School students had ever taken.

A blocked water main caused low water pressure at the school Monday morning, forcing the school to limit water and toilet usage.

Roosevelt also had to find alternative methods of relieving most of the bladders of almost 700 students and 60 staff members.

“We actually thought it was caused by the dishwasher following breakfast,” Principal Jan Rust said. “When we stopped using the dishwasher, the problem continued. We knew we had to take some extra steps.”

Students with, um, emergencies were allowed to use school bathrooms. Those who could wait were sent on a 10-minute bus ride, a class at a time, to use the facilities at Sacajawea Middle School.

The school still had water, and students could use the drinking fountains if necessary.

“Everybody was absolutely such a good sport about this, it was incredible,” Rust said. “The kids of course thought this was a great adventure to go to Sac.”

Work crews jackhammered a school sidewalk and discovered the blocked pipe. At 8:15 Monday night, workers were cleaning up after fixing the problem.

Rust said she was happy the problem was fixed, although she never abandoned ship. “I was very brave, and I stood it out,” she said. “I never went to Sac.”