UPDATED: Internet, Phones Operative Again in District 197

Phones and internet at District 197 were full restored Monday evening, returning email and phone connectivity that had been largely wiped out over the weekend.

Parents may have noted this message posted on the District 197 website on Monday:

"UPDATE - limited Internet connectivity has been restored, thus allowing for some e-mails to get through. However, our telephone service remains unavailable. We continue to work on restoring full communication access and hope to have it resolved as soon as possible.

If you have an emergency need to reach the district, please call 612-594-9677 or 651-289-0542."

An air conditioning motor in the main server room of the district failed over the weekend, resulting in a rise in temperature that "essentially fried" some of the server equipment, according to Communications Director Susan Brott. The failure was not related to the stormy weather.

The district was able to establish a cell phone number and one analog phone for emergency calls to the school if a parent needs to reach a child, said Brott.

Parents and staff were notified Sunday night through the parent notification voicemail service.

Intermittent phone and email service was reported throughout the day as Qwest technicians repaired and replaced equipment as needed.

Payment for the emergency work will likely come out of the capital fund, said Brott.