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
- District leaders opted to permanently close Harris-Lake Park Elementary in Lake Park, Iowa, in January after a ruptured steam line caused water, electrical and fire system damage.
- Students in preschool through fifth grade were shifted to temporary classrooms, including a local church and the district’s high school.
- The disruption accelerated the district’s timeline to open its nearly completed 56,000-square-foot replacement elementary facility, which welcomed students Feb. 17.
- 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.
Learn More
LAKE PARK, Iowa — 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. The district opened its new elementary school Tuesday, Feb. 17, completing a rapid transition that began with emergency relocations for the district’s youngest learners.
Custodial staff spotted a steam leak in the elementary building in early January, prompting an evacuation of the school, which served 167 students in preschool through fifth grade, according to KTIV.
“It was causing not only some interior water damage, but the steam was putting an incredible amount of moisture into the air,” Superintendent Mike Thompson said, according to an article from KTIV.
District officials said the partially ruptured steam line also created safety concerns and led to water, electrical 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.
Classes for elementary students were canceled for two days as leaders finalized temporary classroom arrangements. Preschool, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes were moved to Lake Park Presbyterian Church, while first through fifth grade students were relocated to Harris-Lake Park High School. Students in grades six through 12 remained at the high school, according to KTIV.
The district had already been constructing a new elementary school, designed by FEH Design, with a move originally planned after spring break. Following the boiler failure, leaders accelerated the timeline to a mid-February opening.
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.
“It’s actually been better than we thought,” Matthiesen said, according to an article from KTIV.
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.
“One of the things you’ll notice when you walk down the hallways is just the open design,” Thompson said, according to an article from KTIV.
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.
The project team also includes KCL Engineering, Beck Engineering and Hoogendoorn Construction.
This article is based on reporting originally published by KTIV on Jan. 5, 2026, and Feb. 16, 2026.