WEATHER CAUSES PIPES IN SCHOOLS TO BURST IN VALLEY.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Low temperatures created some wet conditions for many Hart district schools as water pipes burst in the weekend's freezing weather.

``Pretty much every school was affected,'' said Pat Willett, spokeswoman for the William S. Hart Union High School District.

Carle Manley, director of maintenance for the district, worked through the weekend to repair damage before school resumed Tuesday from winter break.

``It was quite an ordeal for the last two days,'' Manley said. ``It's amazing everything is quiet and calm today.''

At Hart High School in Newhall, neighborhood kids took advantage of an unofficial snow day when a backflow device ruptured and caused water to freeze Sunday.

At Rancho Pico and Rio Norte middle schools, interior cold water pipes were chilled to the point they burst, flooding the schools' libraries.

``California is not built for this kind of weather, so we don't think about this until it happens,'' Manley said.

This caused drinking fountains, unable to make room for freezing water, to split at school throughout the district.

``As the ice freezes it causes the fountains to peel open like a can.''

La Mesa Junior High and Valencia and Golden Valley high schools also had some minor hose outlets damaged when wall pipes froze.

Classroom thermostats will be turned up overnight this week to keep kids and pipes warm.

Manley said damage was managed before serious problems occurred and day-to-day operations weren't affected.

That came much to the dismay of Manley's son Terrence, a senior at Saugus High School.

``He knew I had been working all weekend so he asked me if there was any chance schools would be closed today,'' Manley said.

``I said sorry buddy, you have to go to school.''

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