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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Renovations welcome Iowa Valley students on first day of school
MARENGO — The timeline was tight, and finishing was still in progress as Iowa Valley junior and senior high school students entered the building for their first day of class last week.
“You walk around and you can still see the areas in Phase 2,” Principal Janet Behrens said Friday, but for the most part, the first round of renovations was complete.
A week before, Behrens walked through the school and thought “There’s no way.” But teachers came in the following Monday, “and they rocked it,” said Behrens.
Behrens was enjoying her new office as she read the announcements for the first day of school Aug. 23. Built in 1925, it was the same office Dennis Dougherty had when Behrens was in high school at Iowa Valley, she said.
“It was old and dated.” Behrens graduated in 1983.
Behrens left Marengo to pursue a career, living in New Mexico and Illinois for more than 20 years, “And ended up coming home,” Behrens said.
“When I walked into the building eight years ago, not a lot had changed.”
After two years teaching biology, Behrens was asked to take the position of principal. She earned her master's degree with no intention of pursuing the job of principal, she said.
“I can assure you Dr. Dougherty never envisioned … that I would be sitting at this desk.” Behrens never imagined it either, but she’s glad she took the position.
“Best move I ever made.”
Her office is bigger now than the one Dougherty worked out of, thanks to the renovations that the school board, the staff and the community worked for.
“We are really lucky. We are blessed,” Behrens said.
Cheerleaders Myah Harmon, a freshman, and Jasmine Pittman, a senior, looked over the fresh paint, new floors and bright colors of the renovated high school as they waited for the school day to begin.
“It’s really white,” Pittman said.
“It’s fun,” said Harmon.
Tom Megchelsen, who teaches high school science, and Sue Sax, family consumer science teacher, both described the new digs as “awesome.”
Secretary Shannon Rabe said her office “looks completely different.” She has new ceilings and drywall, wiring and lighting. Painting is still in progress, Rabe said.
Rabe helped Mark Meredith find a new locker that first day. During the renovations, some teachers stored things in lockers and apparently hadn’t remembered to empty Meredith’s locker, Rabe told him.
The school expected minor glitches, but overall, the project was declared complete.
“The classrooms are ready,” said Superintendent Curt Rheingans during the Aug. 21 school board meeting. “And that’s with both schools.”
The board met in the new meeting room next to the new superintendent’s new office. It still needed detailing, but Rheingans hung a temporary flag, and the board inaugurated the new room.
“I think we’re sitting really well,” said Rheingans. He noted that the industrial arts shop wouldn’t be ready for another week.
“They won’t be in their shops,” said Behrens, but the classroom was finished and ready for students.
Voters approved a $10.6 million bond referendum in March of 2022 to renovate buildings in the school district. The referendum passed with 73% approval.
Renovations slated for 2025 include elementary school offices, band and choir rooms and the elementary playground.
