Boiler system leads to school cancellation in Harris-Lake Park

There will be no classes in the Harris-Lake Park Community School District on Monday following what was deemed "a significant failure of the boiler system" in the elementary building on Friday.

A Saturday letter to parents and community members from Superintendent Mike Thompson explained that "after consultation with facilities professionals and safety experts, it was determined that this failure has created safety and environmental concerns that make continued use of the building unsafe. As a result, the facility can no longer be occupied by students at this time."

On Sunday, Thompson sent out a second announcement,

"After a careful assessment, it was determined by the local school board and district leadership team that we will not return to the elementary facility prior to our transition into the new elementary building," he wrote.

"At this time, we anticipate the new elementary will open within the next six to eight weeks. During this interim period, our Preschool through 5th grade students will be temporarily relocated. ... Several components are involved in implementing this short-term plan."

Thompson noted that all students in H-LP district will resume classes on Wednesday. School hours remain the same for all students, but locations and logistics have changed.

Preschool, TK, and KG classes will be at the Presbyterian Church in Lake Park, (1220 South Market Street, Lake Park, Iowa). First- through fifth-grade classes will be at the MS/HS Building, and sixth- through 12th-grade classes will remain at the MS/HS Building 

"At this time, the building is undergoing an environmental assessment," Thompson wrote in his Sunday announcement. "Until this process is complete, no personal items may be removed from the facility."