(Radio Iowa) – An elementary school in Spencer that was significantly damaged by flooding in June of 2024 is reopening for classes this fall. Fourth grade teacher Jan Mummert says after spending all of the previous school year in temporary quarters, it was a big moment to walk into the building.  “Even though we were devastated with the flood last year, to come back in and see everything refreshed, you know, it’s a wonderful homecoming,” Mummert says.

Kaetlyn Minkle is another returning 4th grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Spencer and she’s thrilled with her classroom. “It’s pretty much a whole new room. I’m really excited about it. It’s very modern,” Minkle says. “I mean I loved it before, too, but I really like the new colors, the new cabinets we got. It’s just brighter (with the) big new windows.”

The building’s structure was not damaged, but anything that was exposed to flood water or absorbed the water had to be removed. The wooden gymnasium floor in the school and nearly 150 doors are among the things that had to be replaced. The initial cost estimate for the project was over five MILLION dollars.