Richmond Public Schools will be closed for the rest of the week as the city continues work to restore its drinking water system.

“I take this decision extremely seriously, and it pains me to close schools,” said Superintendent Jason Kamras in a message to parents Wednesday afternoon. However, he added, “safety dictates right now that we reopen on Monday.”

RPS students have been out of school since the winter break began Dec. 30 because of snow and the water crisis.

Kamras said several steps have to be taken before schools can be reopened. First, the Virginia Department of Health must certify the boil water advisory can be lifted by conducting two tests 16 hours apart that both find the water is safe to drink. Then, he said the division must “test all of our boilers and plumbing, and fix anything that might need to be fixed.”