Ironwood offers families chance to get items still at LLW

IRONWOOD — With the in-person school year ending abruptly in March due to the corornavirus pandemic, many Ironwood students were unable to clean out their lockers or say goodbye to teachers.

The district is planning a series of collection events next week to allow families to get the items that were unexpectedly left at school until now. So far, three pick-up events are planned for Monday and Tuesday for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

“It’s been a long time, but our hands have been tied until this point,” K-12 Principal Melissa Nigh said, referring to the state’s restrictions on accessing school facilities. “As a plus, hopefully our teachers will all be able to be there, so kids can wave out the window and say bye to their teachers.”

Families of students in kindergarten through second grade can pick up the personal items from 10-11:30 a.m. by the school football field during the district’s food distribution time. Families of students in third through sixth grade can pick up the belongings at the Luther L. Wright K-12 School’s Pabst Street entrance from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday.

There will be an additional pick-up event on Tuesday, May 12, from 5 to 6 p.m., for any K-6 families who couldn’t make the earlier events.

Families are asked to drive up to the school’s Pabst Street entrance during the events.

To avoid requiring families to enter the school, Nigh said teachers will have already cleaned out the lockers and bagged the contents. Tables will be set up by grade outside the building, “So when the families pull up, the teachers can just grab their bag, put it on the table and the family can get out and take that with them,” Nigh said.

Families who aren’t able to make the pick-up events should either arrange for someone else to pick up the belongings or wait until the final pick-up in July, according to the district’s Facebook page.

Plans are still being developed for students in grades seven through 12, according to Nigh, and families should watch the district’s Facebook page for updates.

Anyone with questions can contact Nigh at [email protected].