When staff unlocked the doors to Putnam City North High School’s Performing Arts Center on Monday, they did not find a stage ready for an encore. Instead, they walked into a soaked auditorium, with water from the weekend flooding the stage and lower seating and wiping out Sunday’s planned final musical performance.
District officials said the water damaged props and triggered an immediate cleanup, cutting short what was supposed to be a celebratory end to a season of rehearsals and spring concerts that depend on the auditorium. Students and families arrived to disappointment as restoration crews moved in to start assessing the space.
In a statement to KOKH, Putnam City Schools said the flooding "was connected to the ongoing construction project adjacent to the facility." The district added that its staff, Lingo Construction, outside contractors and restoration crews "responded immediately" and that Sunday’s show had to be canceled. The statement said the district’s priority is supporting "students, staff, and families affected by the cancellation" as teams continue to "assess the extent of the damage and potential loss" tied to the incident.
This is not the first watery setback for the auditorium this school year. In January, a burst pipe during a cold snap flooded the orchestra pit and destroyed props stored underneath the stage, according to KOCO. AJ Graffeo, the district’s public information officer, told the station that instruments were spared. At the time, KOCO reported that restoration crews were already on site and that the district expected the performing arts program to feel the impact for "a couple months or so."
Construction Next Door
Public project listings show Lingo Construction serving as construction manager on recent upgrades at Putnam City North, including a storm-shelter addition and a new performing arts entry, a reminder that active work has been underway right next to the auditorium. Project records on ConstructConnect and local bid notices list Lingo as the prime contractor on multiple jobs at the campus. Those documents describe site and utility work that began in 2025 and was scheduled to run through the spring and summer months.
For many on campus, the biggest hit is not to the budget but to the spirit. "It’s just heartbreaking because these students spend hours and hours and hours in here," Graffeo told KOCO, pointing to the time and energy students and staff poured into the production. KOCO reported that water reached the front row of seating and that several props and decorations were left submerged backstage.
What Comes Next
According to the district, crews that include school staff, Lingo Construction and outside restoration teams are now focused on cleanup, repairs and putting prevention measures in place, while officials work through an inventory of damaged equipment and set a timetable for reopening the space. Putnam City Schools has not given an estimated reopening date, but said families and ticket holders will be kept in the loop about refunds and any rescheduling as assessments continue, per the district’s statement to KOKH.
