Plymouth River Elementary School in Hingham abruptly shifted classes to a new address on Thursday after staff spotted a section of the school roof showing signs of structural stress from heavy snow. Students and staff were loaded onto district buses and taken to Hingham High School, where they spent the day while crews started clearing the roof. Officials said no one was injured and described the move as a precaution meant to keep students and staff safe.
Hingham Superintendent Kathryn Roberts said the facilities team identified the stressed area and moved everyone out "out of an abundance of caution," as reported by Boston 25 News. Families were notified by email, and district buses brought students to the high school, where lunch and learning continued in borrowed classrooms. The district said students would be returned to their usual dismissal points once conditions were declared safe.
District officials told families that roofing specialists and the facilities team were already on site and that heavy equipment, including a crane, had been lined up to help clear the snow, according to Hingham Anchor. Principal Gregory Lamothe said staff focused on keeping routines as familiar as possible while students were supervised at the high school. The district also told families that Plymouth River students will report to Foster School on Friday while snow-removal work continues.
Engineers and Crews on the Roof
The district said roofing specialists had already been working on the Plymouth River building earlier in the week, and a structural engineer was scheduled to evaluate the roof before anyone returns to the school, NBC Boston reported. Crews were actively clearing snow from the roof to reduce the load and make a safe return possible. School officials stressed that reopening decisions will be based on safety rather than the school calendar.
Why Snow Loads Can Be Dangerous
The evacuation followed a nor'easter that dropped heavy, wet snow across New England and left some communities digging out from several feet of accumulation, a pattern highlighted by the Weather Prediction Center. Local coverage and official observations put Hingham's total around 17–18 inches, an amount that can create a serious load on low-slope roofs, according to NWS Boston. Structural engineers note that ponding water, drifting snow and cycles of melting and refreezing can quickly increase stress on roof membranes and supports, which is why districts across the state have been inspecting buildings this week.
What Families Should Know
Hingham Public Schools said it will keep families updated and that buses will continue to run normal routes from the high school until Plymouth River is cleared to reopen, in notices shared by Hingham Public Schools. Parents with questions were directed to contact the central office, and district staff thanked the community for its patience while crews and engineers finish their assessment. Officials again noted that there were no injuries and emphasized that student safety remains the top priority.
