WAVERLY -- Officials with the Waverly-Shell Rock School District are contemplating classroom options for their fifth- and sixth-grade students after flooding damaged several buildings.

The temporary location that appears to offer the most benefits, Superintendent Jere Vyverberg said, is the south end of Willow Lawn Mall. Students would use a space that CUNA will soon vacate.

School board members were briefed on potential sites Tuesday night and will likely make a decision at a meeting Thursday. That session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the administration building in Waverly.

Authorities concluded damage to Washington-Irving Elementary School in Waverly, which serves the district's fifth- and sixth-grade students, cannot be fixed in time for fall classes.

The junior high building and Southeast Elementary, both in Waverly, also suffered during recent high water. Though restoration will take time, those buildings should be ready for the coming school year, Vyverberg told school board members.

Despite ongoing efforts to pump out the water, at least 10 inches remain in Washington-Irving at any given time. Consequently, officials are unsure about the full extent of damage and the building's future, Vyverberg said.

"Time is not on our side," he said.

Though reopening Irving is a open question, flood discussions Tuesday focused on the short-term need for additional classroom space for about 250 students.

Vyverberg outlined four options:

buy eight portable units to put at the high school;

buy eight portable units to disperse throughout the district;

rent portable units;

explore vacant buildings available in the district.

"We think that these are the most viable options at this time," Vyverberg said, but he also opened the floor to suggestions.

School officials looked into borrowing space at Wartburg College, in the former Wal-Mart building and in Janesville. They discovered Janesville lacks adequate space, as does Wartburg, during school hours. The Wal-Mart building also had disadvantages.

At Tuesday's meeting, school board members, a principal and several parents voiced concerns with putting portable units at the high school, namely, traffic.

Portable classrooms could cost the district $480,000 plus electric and Internet hookup fees and about that much for sewer and water, according to Vyverberg's report.

Perceived advantages at Willow Lawn include adequate space -- up to 41,000 square feet -- and a centralized location for students and staff members. The site also offers accessible parking, is available and has a nearby green space, Vyverberg said.

Willow Lawn is situated in Northwest Waverly and would require construction of classroom walls and a city variance, Vyverberg said.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.