SHIOCTON, Wis. (WFRV) – After being closed on Monday due to the ongoing flooding situation, the Shiocton School District has announced its schools will be closed all week due to safety concerns.
According to a release, the tough decision to close the schools throughout the district, as well as the Child Care Center and the Fitness Center, comes after discussions with the village and the county.
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School administration says this is no easy decision, but it is necessary for the safety of the students, staff, and community, as the water levels from the flood are receding at a slow pace and the Village of Shiocton remains under an emergency evacuation.
Floodwaters are said to have caused possible damage to the school, and there is work to be done to check the damage, evaluate the building, clear debris, and ensure that the infrastructure of the school can handle staff and students returning in-person.
Officials say there is a large number of students and staff who have been displaced due to the floods and need to focus on their own safety, the safety of their loved ones, and the condition of their homes.
The district is expected to reach out to the families and staff throughout the community to help provide what additional support they can to those who need it.
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Preparations will then begin with the hopes of finding possible options of what school could look like on Monday, April 27, but those with the school add that they have not yet determined what those options could look like quite yet.
They also say that any in-person classes would need to be cleared through both the village and the county. Any online or digital/virtual learning days would need to be planned with the large number of displaced students and staff in mind.
We want nothing more than a sense of normalcy and routines; however, that needs to come with empathy and safety for our students and staff. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
District Administrator: Garrett Zimmerman
