McLouth students who just wanted that extra day off before going back to school after winter break got their wish Thursday.

A water main near the school burst, closing the school district.

Sometime before 6 a.m. Thursday, the 4-inch water main on the southwest side of Cynthia and Summit streets burst, shooting water onto the school grounds and surrounding yards.

As soon as they found out about the rupture, city crews were out in the 20-degree weather trying to fix the broken pipe.

Crews replaced the broken pipe with a 4-inch PVC pipe.

Carl Chalfant, McLouth city superintendent, said that a similar incident happened on the same section of pipe two years ago.

Jean Rush, McLouth school district superintendent, got the call from the city about 6 a.m. By 6:28 a.m., the school’s automated system began calling parents to let them know school was canceled.

The McLouth School District already had closed down this school year for four days when ice had knocked out the school’s power. Rush said the school board has to look into make-up school days.

Jacob Vandyne, a third-grader at McLouth Elementary School, stayed at home today along with his two older sisters.

Dancing around in his kitchen, Vandyne liked the extra day but said he was ready to go back, “so we don’t have to make it up in the summer.”

The water main break affected some homes and businesses along Cynthia, Summit and Union streets. Nicole Willits, McLouth city clerk, said customers had their water service started again by about 11 a.m.