The district discovered the problem after a routine air test found a leak in one of the pipes. Superintendent Roy Moss decided to cancel classes because the problem was worse than initially thought. The school gas pipes are 40 years old and can't hold pressure.

An engineer told the school it would be safer to replace all the pipes in the system.

"The term combustible gas and using safety measures don't usually go together. I mean, you can't say that you have combustible gas leaking into your building but you are going to take safety measures. If I was a parent, I would have a problem sending my child until that is rectified," Moss explained.

Moss said he'll review what this closing does to the school year once the system is fixed. The district has cancelled some school events and has moved others. For more information, call the North Callaway information line at 573-386-6247 or call Dr. Roy Moss at 573-386-2211.

The cancelled or changed events include:

On Thursday, Jan. 8, the trip to the greenhouse in Columbia is cancelled.

The Junior Banquet is still on the schedule, but the location will be changed.