GORHAM — Narragansett Elementary School was evacuated about noon on Monday because of a gas smell, sending students out into freezing temperatures. The school will remain closed on Tuesday, the superintendent announced Monday evening.

Assistant Superintendent Quinton Donahue said in an email to parents that students were moved across Main Street to St. Anne’s Church. All students are safe, Donahue said.

“We are currently waiting for the gas company to arrive and work with the Gorham Fire Department to determine the cause of the smell. Because this assessment will take some time, we are proceeding with an early dismissal out of an abundance of caution,” Donahue said.

Parents and guardians could pick up their students beginning at 1:15 p.m.

Students who typically ride the bus were transported home from St. Anne’s, bus drivers would only drop off students if a parent or guardian is present at the stop, Donahue said. Pre-K students were dismissed along with all others.

Students were evacuated from the building twice on Nov. 5 because of a gas leak from a faulty valve in a gas regulator on a rooftop air handler, according to Superintendent Heather Perry.

Perry said in a lengthy email Monday that natural gas is used as part of the heating system at Narragansett School.

Perry said the prior gas issue “had a clear and specific cause” and “all identified issues were repaired at that time.”

“Since then, there have been no repeated problems to our knowledge. Maine Natural Gas is actively investigating today’s incident, and we are awaiting more detailed information to understand the source of the odor reported today,” Perry said.