Hales Corners school faces $1M in repairs and opening delay following flood damage

HALES CORNERS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Students were set to return to a Hales Corners school next Monday, but the opening could be delayed by at least a month because of flood damage.

With water coming in from the roof, windows, doors, and the basement, the Journeys Lutheran School is estimating repairs will cost around $1 million.

“Just felt violated. Like something had come through and ruined something that was so special to our students and our staff,” said Jenny Stollenwerk, head of Journeys Lutheran School.

The start of a brand-new school year is usually filled with students and excitement, but instead, you’ll find empty hallways and ripped up carpeting.

“They just walked through the building, and we found water everywhere,” said Stollenwerk.

The school serves students with disabilities who often need additional accommodations during the school year.

“We have created spaces for our students so that they can thrive here and really feel comfortable,” said Stollenwerk.

Stollenwerk says teachers had set up their classrooms for the first day of school next Monday, but nearly everything was damaged last week during the floods and heavy rain.

“We have an older building, so we have to do an asbestos abatement in some of the areas now because of it,” said Stollenwerk.

The rooms that weren’t damaged are now being used for storage.

“A lot of our things ended up here,” said Stollenwerk.

Stollenwerk says with school openings delayed by at least a month, many students are left without help and teacher’s aids without income.

“I’m sad. I’m sad for our families. I’m sad for our students,” said Stollenwerk.

Staff say they are looking for volunteers to help with cleanup during the coming days. If you would like to contribute to the school’s GoFundMe to help with repairs, you can find it here.