Seminole students have been shifted to a virtual learning platform multiple times since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, but yesterday the culprit was not a virus that emptied classrooms. It was a broken water line.

Just after 8:15 a.m. Thursday, the City of Seminole sent out an alert that a water line had broken and customers in the northwest part of the city would experience water pressure issues for the next several hours.

Shortly after the city sent the alert, school officials announced that high school students were being sent home for the remainder of the day.

“Due to a city water issue, Seminole High School will be virtual for the remainder of the day starting at 9:00 a.m. All other school sites will remain in session as normal. High school students who ride busses will be transported by bus back home, students who are picked up will be able to wait until their ride arrives, and student drivers will be dismissed to leave. Students’ work will be available online on their google classrooms and other online platforms.” School officials said in an email alert.

The broken water line was located just south of the Seminole State College Softball complex on Highway 9, which is located near the high school.

The other large facilities in the area, Seminole State College and AllianceHealth Seminole, reportedly continued to operate as usual but with low water pressure.

To receive alerts from the city, including information on water main breaks and text “water” to 30890. For other emergency alerts, text “join Seminole” to the same number.