School Starts Soon and We’re All Getting Ready

The start of the school year is just around the corner, with ICCSD schools beginning Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, and CCA schools beginning Monday, Aug. 26, 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

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. There is not work that is anticipated to interfere with normal walking and biking routes.

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.

• 7:50 a.m. for North Bend Elementary School (2230 St Andrews Dr.)
• 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
• 8:50 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 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.