Administrators say the new addition to the existing middle/high school building is designed for more flexible learning and keeps the campus together K-12. | Photo Credit: FEH Designs
What You Need to Know听
- District leaders opted to permanently close Harris-Lake Park Elementary in Lake Park, Iowa,听in January听after a ruptured steam line caused water, electrical and fire system damage.听
- Students in preschool through fifth grade were shifted to temporary classrooms, including a local church and the district鈥檚 high school.听
- The disruption accelerated the district鈥檚 timeline to open its nearly completed听56,000-square-foot听replacement elementary facility, which welcomed听students Feb. 17.听听
- Administrators say the new addition to the existing middle/high school building is designed for more flexible learning and keeps the campus together K-12.听听
Learn听More听
LAKE PARK, Iowa 鈥� After a boiler-related steam leak forced an evacuation and damaged key systems, the Harris-Lake Park Community School District has permanently closed its former elementary building and moved students into a new facility weeks earlier than planned.听The district opened its new elementary school Tuesday, Feb. 17, completing a rapid transition that began with emergency relocations for the district鈥檚 youngest learners.听
Custodial staff spotted a steam leak in the elementary building听in early January,听prompting an evacuation of the school, which served 167 students in preschool through fifth grade, according to KTIV.听听
鈥淚t was causing not only some interior water damage, but the steam was putting an incredible amount of moisture into the air,鈥� Superintendent Mike Thompson said, according to听.听
District officials said the partially ruptured steam line also created safety concerns and led to water,听electrical听and fire system damage. Service Master was brought in to address water and steam impacts, along with electrical damage and fire system repairs, KTIV reported.听听
Classes for elementary students were canceled for two days as leaders听finalized听temporary classroom arrangements. Preschool, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes were moved to Lake Park Presbyterian Church, while first through fifth grade students were听relocated听to Harris-Lake Park High School. Students in grades six through 12 remained at the high school, according to KTIV.听听
The district had already been constructing a new elementary school,听designed by听FEH Design,听with a move originally planned after spring break. Following the boiler failure, leaders accelerated the timeline to a mid-February opening.听听
On Feb. 16, the district hosted a media tour of the new elementary addition connected to the existing middle and high school building. Elementary principal Rebecca Matthiesen said staff adapted quickly to the midyear disruption.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 actually been better than we thought,鈥� Matthiesen said, according to听.听听
District leaders highlighted design features intended to support flexible instruction, including varied classroom layouts. Thompson also pointed to campus improvements that keep students and amenities in one place.听听
鈥淥ne of the things you鈥檒l notice when you walk down the hallways is just the open design,鈥� Thompson said, according to听.听听
With the elementary now co-located on the K-12 campus, Thompson said the district expects more opportunities for cross-grade programming and student collaboration.听听
The project team also includes KCL Engineering, Beck听Engineering听and Hoogendoorn Construction.听
This article is based on reporting originally published by KTIV on Jan. 5, 2026, and Feb. 16, 2026.