Westdale Middle School is closing Friday "for safety and operational reasons" thanks to a city sewage issue affecting the surrounding neighborhood in Baton Rouge.

The plan is to reopen the 5650 Claycut Road campus on Monday once repairs are complete.

Taylor Gast, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, said maintenance personnel tried to fix the issue when it first came to light Thursday, but could not once they confirmed that the problem was located "on the city’s main sewer line, not within the school."

School leaders considered but ultimately opted against alternatives that would have kept classes operating because none afforded "adequate or accessible restrooms for all students."

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