Fairfield School reopened today following the repair of a water line break, made possible in part by a generous donation from Poland Spring in Hollis. The company provided 1,000 bottles of water to ensure students and staff had safe drinking water while awaiting official testing results of the school’s water system.
The closure came during the very first week of the new school year—an unexpected challenge for students, families, and staff. Fairfield School had been closed for two days, and thanks to the swift response of many partners, the repair was completed quickly. The district extends its appreciation to Maine Water Company, City of Saco’s Public Works, Shaw Brothers, Jim Godbout Plumbing and Heating, Johnson Controls, Siemens, and especially to Don Roth, Andrew Saksa, and the entire district facilities team for their tireless efforts in making the repair possible. With the building cleared for safe use, the donation of bottled water allowed students to return to learning a day sooner than anticipated.
“We are so grateful to our dedicated facilities staff and contractors for working swiftly and efficiently to resolve this issue, and to Poland Spring for stepping up to provide bottled water so our students could return to school without delay,” said Jeremy Ray, Superintendent of Schools. “This is another example of how our community and local partners come together to support our students.”
Fairfield Principal Wendy LeBlanc added, “The first week of school is such an important time for our students as they settle into routines and reconnect with friends and teachers. Having the quick repair and bottled water donation meant we could bring everyone back together and keep that momentum going.”
In the interim, Fairfield School is offering bottled water and encouraging students to bring their own reusable water bottles from home until the water system testing confirms it is fully safe for drinking. The remaining construction will continue outside the school building.