Students at Franklin Elementary School in Newton got an unscheduled day off Tuesday when the school shut its doors due to the death of a staff member. Newton Public Schools informed parents and students of the closure, citing an "internal emergency," which led to speculation and concern within the community.
Details on the situation remained scant, with a Facebook post by the Newton Public Schools being the primary source of early information regarding the closure, noting the absence of before or after-school care. As the day unfolded, it became clear that the "internal emergency" reported by WWLP was indeed due to an unforeseen tragedy within the school's staff.
According to a spokesperson from the Newton Public Schools, Franklin Elementary did not open its doors as it mourned the loss of a member of their community. “Franklin Elementary School was closed due to the unexpected passing of a staff member,” the spokesperson said, as obtained by Boston 25 News. In tandem with the somber news, official reassurances were made that there were no issues with the building itself that would pose additional risks to students and staff.
Responding teams completed their investigations and by Tuesday afternoon, the police and fire departments decreed the building as safe. The spokesperson emphasized, "City police and fire departments have determined that there is no issue with the building and it is safe for school to resume,” allaying any fears of ongoing dangers. Franklin Elementary is set to reopen Wednesday, with classes proceeding per normal, though the identity of the deceased staff member and the details of their passing were not disclosed.
This is a developing story.
