Steve Gothberg, school director of buildings and grounds, got the first call that something was amiss with the water system serving the Toll Gate educational complex shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday. It was the harbinger to a long day that ended with the cancellation of Winman Junior High School, Toll Gate High and Warwick Area Career and Technical Center classes Thursday.

Gothberg put in a call to director of public works and the mayor’s chief of staff David Picozzi. A four-foot section of eight-inch water main, installed when Winman was built in the late 1970s, burst.

While the system was designed to isolate Winman and continue providing service to the other buildings at the complex, Gothberg said the valves were stuck open and wouldn’t operate. The only alternative was for the Kent County Water Authority to shut off the entire complex. Overnight, Gothberg worked to stay on top of the problem, contacting Dig Safe and lining up city crews to start in the early morning. He got a couple of hours of sleep and started his calls at 4 a.m.

Classes at the three schools were canceled for the day and city crews replaced the burst section of pipe and had the system back up and operational by early Thursday afternoon. Students and teachers were back to school on Friday.

Gothberg said they plan to replace the valves over the summer, so if another break occurs, the service can be segregated and not impact the whole complex. He was especially appreciative of DPW and city water crews for their work.

“We’re working together,” he said.