Section to remain closed where ceiling collapsed

District officials are thankful no one was hurt.
AUSTINTOWN -- The middle school was to reopen today after architects and engineers declared most of the building safe.
The only area of concern includes the 24 rooms and hallways in one section of the third floor, where nearly half a ceiling collapsed Monday in a science classroom.
No one will be allowed in that area, school district officials said Wednesday, until repairs are made. Fifth- and sixth-graders who have classes there will have them in other areas of the building. By Monday, officials said, the school should be back to normal operations.
Tests also showed there is no asbestos in the ceiling, so the repairs can proceed faster than they would have if the district had to form an asbestos-abatement plan.
District officials have expressed relief that no one was injured in the collapse, which happened during a class change between fourth and fifth periods.
Earlier reports said there were two people in the room at the time. On Wednesday, officials said there were four. Only one was a pupil. The other three were the teacher and two guest speakers in the science class. No one was hurt.
What experts said
Officials said that architects and engineers who checked the building Tuesday say the rest of it is safe.
School board president Michael Creatore said at Wednesday's board meeting that the type of ceiling construction found in the area of concern is not typical of the rest of the school. The ceiling that collapsed was made of plaster on wire mesh that had been nailed into wooden joists.
Officials have said the combination of dry wood, straight instead of twisted nails, the added weight of lighting fixtures and the building's age caused the collapse. The building is 90 years old.
Creatore said all ceilings in the affected area will be reinforced with metal studs.