Marshalltown schools have been dealing with roof damage to three elementary schools from the July 19th tornado, and the district is finding deeper effects from the extensive damage to the community’s housing and employment.
Marshalltown school superintendent Theron Schutte says the devastation also later scattered families, which means schools have fewer students this year.
“We lost the equivalent of 90 students from our enrollment, after having experienced an increase of about 140 the past two years,” said Schutte.
He says some of those families with Marshalltown students went farther than just to neighboring school districts.
“I think they went wherever they could find work and affordable housing, quite honestly,” he said.
The enrollment decrease is costing Marshalltown more than $500,000 in state funding, and Schutte says that’s forcing downsizing ahead.
“Everything we can do to avoid negatively affecting the remaining students and staff will be looked at,” he said.
Cedar Rapids schools experienced a similar enrollment dip following the 2008 floods.