CR students to head back to school at new attendance centers

By Shelia Tomkins

Thursday, Aug. 23, will mark the beginning of the new school year — or the end of summer vacation, depending on your viewpoint — for the Clayton Ridge Community School District and St. Mary/ Immaculate Conception School.

This year will see a change in attendance centers for students who attend Clayton Ridge. Students in pre-kindergarten through grade five will now take classes in Garnavillo, not Guttenberg. Sixth through 12th graders will attend classes at the Guttenberg campus.

In addition to those logistic changes, construction work currently underway will also be a factor in new routines. 

"There will be some temporary changes with several items," said Superintendent Shane Wahls. "Due to construction in the gym and the new addition, high school students will be routed outside to get to the north part of the campus for lunch. High school volleyball will practice and play their home games in the Garnavillo gym." 

In reviewing the building project progress thus far, Superintendent Wahls noted that the new weight room is now completed, as is the HVAC system in the new middle school along with new lighting and ceilings in the hallways.

"All classrooms are painted, carpeted and ready in all buildings," he said. "The home lockerrooms are renovated in the high school."

Installation of the elementary playground in Garnavillo is anticipated to be done this week, and renovation work on three Garnavillo classrooms is completed.

Work yet to be finished includes completion of the new addition and central secure entrance at the Guttenberg campus,  gym renovations, completion of the teacher collaboration space in Garnavillo, removation of the high school music spaces, and installation of electric switch gear.

"All projects are on schedule to be completed at the end of November," said Supt. Wahls.