Inuvik (May 14/04) - High school students and their parents who called Samuel Hearne secondary school Monday morning for information about its closure and cancelled classes were greeted with a recorded message.

"Due to structural damage the school is closed," it said.

The message goes on to say that no re-opening date or alternate measures have been determined and that parents and students should check CBC's radio news for any updates.

Last Wednesday morning, SHSS's foyer roof collapsed twenty minutes before the beginning of first period.

Beaufort Delta Education Council Superintendent James Anderson was unavailable for comment this week. However, Sarah Jerome, speaking on behalf of the council Monday, said an inspector was at SHSS Monday and there is still no word on when the building would be re-opened.

Used to hold Grade 12 classes

Jerome added that in the meantime, two shop buildings behind SHSS will be used to hold Grade 12 classes. This began on Tuesday.

Built in 1967, the two-storey building and gymnasium is connected by a foyer. When the foyer roof collapsed Wednesday, it gave the SHSS student body of approximately 380 an unexpected holiday.

Brian Lemax, regional superintendent for the Department of Public Works (the ministry responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of SHSS), says two structural engineers were called in and he expects a report on the roof's failure by the end of the week.

Lemax calls the build-up of snow on the foyer roof a "contributing factor" and would not speculate on the fault of DPW in the accident.

"Snow removal from the roof (of SHSS) is not scheduled on a regular basis," said Lemax of whether or not DPW has a policy to keep its buildings clear of snow in the winter. "It's sometimes done as a precautionary measure, though."

The day before the accident, DPW workers had been at the school to assess the accumulation of snow on top of the foyer, following concerns from staff and students who noticed a crack and water leakage where the roof eventually collapsed.

After deciding the snow -- which was 1.5m deep in places -- was not an immediate concern, it was agreed that the removal would take place the following day.

That morning, just before students were to arrive for class, the roof caved in.

"It's a miracle no students were in the foyer and no one was injured," said SHSS principal Peter Hough, who witnessed the roof come down.

In a GNWT press release issued late Monday afternoon, it was reported that a forensic inspection of the foyer was conducted over the weekend and debris was removed in preparation to close off the exposed portion.

"The building will remain unavailable to school staff and students until the structural engineer certifies that it is safe and the fire marshal clears it for occupancy," it said.