NEW SHARON — Regional School Unit 9’s Cape Cod Hill School closed midday Monday because the furnace was not operating properly.

Superintendent Chris Elkington sent a message to families that students were dismissed at 11:45 a.m.

Problems with the circulator pump in the water boiler left classrooms at 55 to 56 degrees, Elkington wrote.

Administrators hoped to have a replacement pump by 9:30 to 10 a.m., therefore students wore their jackets. However, the heat couldn’t be properly restored until the early afternoon because of parts issues and it was “not acceptable” for children to be in school at those temperatures.

“Please accept my apologies for having to send your children home today, but it couldn’t be helped,” Elkington wrote.

This is not the first time RSU 9 has dealt with heating issues at its schools in the 2021-22 school year.

Elkington wrote that the district has had multiple issues with the heat at the Cape Cod Hill School.

He said administrators are planning to replace the boiler for the 2022-23 school year because “it is very old and obviously in need of replacement.” However, when depends on how soon they can acquire one. Elkington wrote it will likely be in six months.

Mt. Blue Middle School in Farmington dismissed students early Jan. 31 because the school unexpectedly ran out of oil. Elkington said administration was setting policies in place to ensure the same issue would not happen again.