VIENNA — Maries R-1 students had an Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) yesterday despite temperatures well above freezing because of a sewer drainage issue.

Superintendent Teresa Messersmith said staff first noticed the issue last Friday when they found gravel in a manhole near the propane tank. The district suspects it is a collapsed pipe though the cause of the problem is unknown. Administrators contacted a plumber who visited the school on Monday to take a look.

Although the issue did not affect operations on Friday or Monday, Messersmith said that the plumbing would be out of order during repairs on Tuesday, so classes could not be in session. Wilber’s Plumbing completed the work.

AMI is a practice that keeps students engaged in school work when classes are unable to happen on campus. During AMI days, students are off campus, but they receive assignments that they turn in once they are back at school. Tuesday was the district’s fifth AMI day of the school year following several days taken for inclement weather.