School Starts Aug. 23, and We’re All Getting Ready

The start of the school year is just around the corner, with ICCSD and CCA schools both beginning Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, and other area schools starting soon, too. City staff, school districts and families are all getting ready for the new year.

Whether it’s dropping kindergartners off for the first time, attending a new school or adjusting from summer schedules, everyone — including parents, bus drivers and educators — is getting back into the swing of things. A little preparation and patience will go a long way to kids getting to school safely and on time.

Street and Trail Construction

While city staff and contractors have been busy repainting lines and crosswalks, moving construction projects along and getting trails cleaned up to the start of school, some work will continue:

Dubuque, Front and Cherry Streets

On-going construction around Penn Elementary at Dubuque, Front and Cherry streets will impact parents, staff and students traveling to the school through the start of the academic year and through the fall.

While the school, walking trails and parking lots will continue to remain accessible, construction will keep closed some of the paths parents and students might be used to taking.

Pedestrian traffic from the north will be detoured around the Babe Ruth field in Penn Meadows Park to access the rear of the school. Pedestrian access from Cherry Street and Dubuque Street south of the school will remain unchanged.

Vehicle traffic traffic from the north will be detoured down Dubuque, Main and Cherry streets. Dubuque Street traffic from the south will be unchanged.

Ranshaw Way Trails and Underpass

While the new Ranshaw Way underpass near Hawkeye Drive and trails will not be open at the start of the school year, it is expected to open by mid-September. Meanwhile, pedestrian access to crossing Ranshaw Way is at Golfview/Fairview lanes, Zeller Street and the Cherry Street underpass.

School Start Times

The opening school bells coincide with times that already see heavy traffic. While everyone works out their fall routines (and snaps first-day-of-school photos to share on Facebook Instagram), commuters are encouraged to leave home a little earlier, travel carefully in school zones and be patient and courteous throughout North Liberty.

While getting the kids gathered for back-to-school photos, please take photos at home rather than at school to ease congestion around the buildings.

• 7:55 a.m. for students at Penn (230 N. Dubuque St.), Garner (80 Birch St.), Van Allen (170 Abigail Ave.) and Grant (1000 Centro Way) elementary schools
• 8:15 a.m. for students at North Bend Elementary School (2230 St Andrews Dr.)
• 8:50 a.m. for students at North Central Junior High School (180 E. Forevergreen Road) and Liberty High School (1400 S. Dubuque St.)

School speed zone signs begin flashing 30 minutes before elementary schools start and end and will stop flashing 30 minutes after school starts and ends, based on the schedules of nearby schools. Drivers should obey the posted speed when signs are flashing.

Crossing Guards 

City staff and contractors have been busy repainting lines and crosswalks and getting trails cleaned up to the start of school. City crossing guards are stationed at the following intersections:

• Stewart and Penn streets
• Dubuque and Cherry streets
• Front and Birch streets
• Front Street and Abigail Avenue

Guards are there to help kids cross safely, not direct traffic, and drivers are required to obey their signals.

North Liberty’s population is full of families with school-age kids, so starting back to school is kind of a big deal. Have a great school year, and thanks for helping start it off right.