PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A sewer backup forced the closure of Taconic High School on Tuesday afternoon and canceled all afternoon activities. 

 

According to a message sent to the school community by Principal Matthew Bishop, plumbers working at the school removed a drain cap at about 1:50 p.m., which allowed sewage to spill into the Career Technical Education hallway. 

 

Students were taken to the gym and auditorium, and then released from the building at about 2:25 p.m., a few minutes earlier than normal. 

 

All activities were canceled, though the girls' basketball team will still meet at the school at 3:30 p.m. to take the bus to the game at Putnam Vocational in Springfield. 

 

Bishop said crews were being coordinated to clean the building overnight with the expectation the school will reopen on time Wednesday morning. 

 

The school community will be updated if there are any changes.