Iowa law allows schools to start on August 23rd this year — but the fall semester will begin September 5th in the Rock Valley school district as the community recovers from severe flash flooding that hit in June.
In a message posted online, Rock Valley Superintendent Matt Van Voorst says district officials hope returning to classes can bring some normalcy back to students’ lives. School rooms aren’t ready, though, so students in kindergarten, first and second grades will start classes at Trinity Christian Reformed Church. Third, fourth and fifth graders will start school in cleaned, sanitized but unfinished classrooms. The State of Iowa is constructing six temporary classrooms that will be used by students in sixth through 12th grades and those older students will rotate back and forth to unfinished spaces in the school building where reconstruction is underway. The superintendent says while the situation is far from ideal, the plan provides staff with the necessary space to educate students in person.
Van Voorst states that school registration will take place online as usual and in person at the school on August 8. He encourages everyone to register, even if you’re uncertain about living arrangements in the fall.
