The Oak Grove Middle School cafeteria, located at 2050 Minert Rd. in Concord, was closed on Oct.2 after inspectors from the Contra Costa County Health Department say they found no running water to the entire school, including inside the bathroom sinks and toilets, which were full of human waste.
The school was inspected by the health department on Oct.2 after a complaint came in stating the school had no water due to a broken water water pipe since Oct.1. The complaint alleged the school refused to close the facility even though the kitchen and bathrooms had no running water.
The complaint also stated that portable toilets were supposed to be delivered at 7:30 a.m. on Oct.2 but they were not delivered and school was allowed to stay open.
No water service was observed in student restroom toilets and hand sinks and toilets were full of waste, according to the health department.
The health inspector arrived at the school at 12 p.m. on Oct.2. Students were sent home at 1 p.m., which is the regular time school is dismissed on Wednesday.
The cafeteria has since been reinspected and reopened, and water service has been restored to the school.
Please click on the ‘Dirty Dining‘ link to view all the most recent restaurant closures in Contra Costa County.
UPDATE: The following letter was sent home to Oak Grove Middle School families on Wednesday, Oct.2:
Update on Water Main Leak at Oak Grove Middle School
On October 1 as school was ending, a water main ruptured at Oak Grove Middle School, prompting a shut-down of the main for emergency repairs.
Maintenance crews began repairs immediately, but the extent of the rupture required parts that were not readily available. As a result, the water had to remain shut off and the District arranged for portable restrooms and hand washing stations to be delivered to the campus this morning. Deliveries of bottled water and additional hand sanitizer were also arranged. Cold lunches had been planned for today as a standard minimum day, so water was not required for food preparation in the kitchen. Unfortunately, the portable restrooms and hand washing stations were not delivered as expected; students and staff did have to use the regular school restrooms.
Oak Grove’s principal sent out an automated message to families this morning, letting them know of the continued challenges with the main repair. Parents who wanted to pick up their students early were allowed to do so. All students were dismissed as usual at 12:40 p.m.; all staff were released at that time as well, given that the portable facilities had not arrived.
As of 1:30 p.m., water has been restored. Additional custodial support has been provided to the campus to assist in the clean-up of restrooms and other facilities in preparation for tomorrow’s full school day.
We appreciate the understanding and flexibility of our students, staff, and families in this situation. We will be assessing existing plumbing fixtures on the campus to determine if there are any areas that need proactive maintenance to prevent similar breaks.
34 comments
I wouldn’t pooh-pooh the seriousness of this story.
Oak Grove Middle School and Ygnacio Valley High are both disgusting schools to begin with. I went to both in the 70s and they were good schools then but since the early 80s, they have continued to go downhill every year.
I wonder why
Right???!!!!
Whoever decided not to close the school that has no running water deserves a less important job. but then you think about what it would mean to set those little savages free for the day. One crazy problem.
Savages…real nice. They are children, young adults, and if you want them to respect you and other adults show them some consideration.
Another example of MDUSD management putting money ahead of our children’s health and safety.
You’r hard earned tax dollars going everywhere else (teachers, administrators, attorneys) but where they are needed most.
Good job Contra Costa County Office of Education Supervisor Lynn Mackey (who sucks $20,075.83,from taxpayers EACH MONTH).
I’ll bet Lynn Mackey’s toilets work just fine in her home.
Another great job there voters. You’re toilets working OK this morning?
You’r…check that. Your.
Wrong District
S,
Why do you say that?
@S:
Read Noj’s comment again and see if you can noodle out why your reply is, at best, nonsensical.
The County oversees the school district’s within the county. MDUSD is one of those districts. However, the current superintendent in the County office couldn’t find Ygnacio Valley if you gave her a map, and a gps
The wrong district was looking at the comment about the salary of a Contra Costa County Office of Education Sup.. And I might be wrong, but the County Office serves as a liaison and assists and helps local school districts, but does not have legal oversight. That school is part of MDUSD which is its own public entity with its own elected officials. The complaint was focused on the wrong district???? I’ll except correction, gracefully.
Was the broken water pipe a water district issue or school site issue? Water districts usually have the people with the right skills and tools needed to immediately locate and fix issues with their distribution system.
Does that school have a fire sprinkler system? If so, did the school post additional security at all times people were on campus to raise the alarm in case a fire started? The water main feeding a local Safeway broke underneath the Safeway parking lot. It took several months to fix this. In the mean time, the Safeway store had no water and as part of this hired a private security company who posted a guy that stood in front of the store and was the “fire alarm.”
Thank you. I had not thought about that a fire sprinkler system would have water pressure plus lack of water sensors but that makes perfect sense.
Just called the water district about this issue. The problem was a broken water main on the school site and NOT in the street. The water district has confirmed that there is no problem with service to the meter and they have offered any assistance possible.
There is no reason for any of this. As soon as they realized the school had no water, there should have been plumbers working around the clock until it was restored.
Why not do a health check on every single one of our District’s schools, restrooms and cafeteria’s? I bet you’ll find they all need serious help!
Silverwood Elem constantly has rats around the cafeteria and it’s dumpsters.
They are supposed to have janitors that check and clean the restrooms, fill the soaps and make sure there are hand drying essentials. Who dropped the ball and why didn’t the students tell someone? questions to ponder. 😉
What! That should have been declared an emergency immediately. A complaint had to be made and health inspectors had to come out and tell them so. Plumbers should have been on this round the clock until fixed. What a shame.
Please close this school it’s hurting local property values.
Close the school? and where do you place those kids? The schools in the are are impacted. So closing them is not an issue. Getting the new Superintendent to actually do something and fix the issues is what needs to be done.
Closing does not help the students.
A very hard situation for everyone.
Oak Grove Middle needs are support.
Let’s giving encouragement, ideas on how to support versus negative vibes.
Happy to hear their back up and running.
Prayers sent to our community Middle School
Thank you for your support
Convert the school to a charter and dismiss the incompetent leadership.
If they can’t manage a simple problem like a plumbing failure, how are they dealing with kids vaping, doing drugs, prostitution, etc.?
And people wonder why Walnut Creek wanted to leave MDUSD…even for MDUSD, this is beyond comprehension. No running water for days. Feel so sorry for the kids and the staff. Doubt this happens in other smaller, well-managed local school districts
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If anyone is interested: Apparently, MDUSD is looking for a few good people and holding a job fair! Have too many rats been deserting the ship?
Once your in the district, you don’t have to do much work because the unions protect the worthless lazy employees.
In the shadow of the leadership of Gary, I am delighted to see his management style is being followed to the letter by the current administration.
This is intolerable.
I wouldn’t let my child attend any school in the MDUSD.
From what the District is withholding on Property Taxes for Bonds, this certainly can’t be due to lack of funds.
“What happened at school today, daughter?”
The bathrooms had poop all over and the toilets didn’t work
“You still have to go to school tomorrow”
I work for MDUSD and that kitchen should have immediately closed. The Mgr of that kitchen should have not even think twice in that situation.
Also, the maintenance people have so much work and not enough bodies. Every dept. is short staffed and it is just a mess.
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