It looks like Monday, August 24th, will be the school start date for Decorah schools next fall

Both houses of the Iowa Legislature have now agreed on a compromise bill that would set the school start date across Iowa as beginning no earlier than August 23rd. The legislation has been forwarded to Governor Branstad, who has indicated he would sign the compromise bill.

Earlier Branstad pushed the issue of school start date by mandating the Iowa Department of Education to take a hard line on previously, almost automatic waivers, that allowed schools to start before Labor Day.  Branstad cited state economic interests above the concerns about local school board control of start dates.

Decorah Superintendent Mike Haluska said that if Branstad signs the legislation, the Decorah start date would be Monday, August 24th.