GRANITE QUARRY — Students at Granite Quarry Elementary School were sent home Friday because of a malfunctioning heating system, Rowan-Salisbury Schools officials said.

Schools had a two-hour delay Friday morning for students because of extremely cold temperatures.

But at Granite Quarry, there was another problem — the heat was out. Maintenance workers discovered a problem with the boiler early Friday morning.

“We couldn’t have kids at school,” said Rita Foil, the school district spokeswoman.

By the time a decision was reached, “buses were already rolling,” Foil said.

Bus riders were brought to the school, fed breakfast, then returned home.

Foil said phone messages were sent out to parents so they would be aware that their children would be returning home.

“We don’t ever return a child to home without a parent or guardian or somebody there,” she said.

If no adult was home, children would be returned to the school.

Students who arrived in cars were sent home immediately, according to Foil.

While the boiler was repaired quickly, Foil said it took several hours for the old school building to become warm enough to hold classes.

Staff members decided to stay.

“They’re going to continue to work there and have a workday,” Foil said.

The staff was invited to work at the Wallace Educational Forum, Foil said, but most members chose to spend the day in the school’s media center.