UPDATE: Robinson Elementary School in Beloit Will Be Open Thursday

UPDATED Wednesday, October 10, 2012 --- 1:46 p.m.

Robinson Elementary School in Beloit will be *open* on Thursday, according to the school district's Website.

Picture Day will be postponed. Breakfast will be served in the classrooms starting at 8 a.m.

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UPDATED Wednesday, October 10, 2012 --- 7:35 a.m.

BELOIT, Wis. (AP) -- An elementary school in Beloit was evacuated after a gymnasium wall began cracking during construction.

Crews were working on a new addition behind Robinson Elementary School on Tuesday. Corporate Contractors Inc. was digging to place footing for the addition when the foundation under the gymnasium began to collapse, causing the north gym wall to crack.

Construction was stopped immediately, and the fire department responded. The building was evacuated just before 3 p.m., and students were released at their normal time.

No gym classes were going on at the time. No one was hurt.

Crews plan to backfill the foundation of the school and support it with heavy timber. Structural engineers will inspect the gym and the building repaired.

About 400 students attend the K-3 school. Classes are canceled for Wednesday.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.

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UPDATED: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 --- 8:32p.m.

Release from City of Beloit:

Tuesday, October 9, 2012 Corporate Contractors, Inc. was working on the new addition behind Robinson Elementary school located at 1801 Cranston Rd. CCI was digging to place footings for the addition when the foundation under the gymnasium began to collapse causing the north gymnasium wall to crack in several locations.

Construction was immediately stopped.

At 2:46p.m. the City of Beloit's Fire Department was dispatched to Robinson Elementary School. The fire department arrived at 2:51p.m. and the building was immediately evacuated. Students were released at their normal time of 3:06p.m. At the time of the call, there was not a gym classes in the gymnasium. The wall did not collapse. There were no injuries.

The Beloit Fire Department initiated a mutual aid box alarm system. Ten regional fire departments responded to Robinson Elementary School. Technical Rescue Squads were deployed to manage exterior shoring of the site. CCI intends to backfill the foundation of the school and support it with heavy timber with the assistance of the Stateline Technical Rescue Team. Several truckloads of heavy timber were delivered to the site before 6p.m. The gymnasium will be inspected by structural engineers and the building will be repaired as soon as possible.

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Posted Tuesday, October 9, 2012 --- 4:20 p.m.

From the Beloit School District:

Robinson Elementary School (Beloit School District) closed tomorrow due to building issues.

The message is posted on the school district's website: beloitschools.net

Robinson Elementary School is located at 1801 Cranston Rd. in Beloit.

A school spokesperson told NBC15 crews were digging at the school when they discovered a crack in the foundation.

Administrators evacuated the building as a precaution.

The school will be closed tomorrow so they can evaluate the situation.

Stay with NBC15.com for continuing coverage.


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  • by Name Location: Location on Oct 13, 2012 at 03:15 PM
    When I showed up for work at the school friday 2 backhoes were holding up the wall at the school. They are saying the school is safe for kids?

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