All Cedar Rapids elementaries fixed and ready for students

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS - All 21 of the Cedar Rapids Community School District's elementary schools will be open for in-person classes when the academic year starts Sept. 21, the district told parents Friday.

The news also means three middle schools that were going to be devoted to elementary students will be able to be used for the older students after all.

So Harding, Wilson and Roosevelt middle schools also will begin in-person classes for students Sept. 21.

But students at three other middle schools - Franklin, McKinley and Taft - and the three high schools - Jefferson, Kennedy and Washington - will start classes online since their school buildings are still being repaired.

School district buildings suffered extensive damage in the Aug. 10 derecho, pushing back the start date for classes and forcing more online instruction than planned.

'Every effort is being made to get these buildings accessible as soon as possible,” the district said in its message to parents.

But it could be a while.

Franklin, McKinley and Taft are not expected to be repaired and open until Nov. 16. I

The high schools may not open until Jan. 4.

The district said it has extended until Sept. 11 the deadline for families to choose a return-to-learn plan.

The three options are in-person learning, short-term online learning or long-term online learning through the Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy. The district advised parents to contact their respective schools if they want to change their original choice.