LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Konocti Unified School District has announced a new school year start date for its campuses in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks, while its Lower Lake schools aren't yet ready to reopen in the wake of the Clayton fire.

School in the district was to have opened on Monday, but the beginning of the Clayton fire two days earlier forced the temporary closure of schools while several of its campuses were in the mandatory evacuation area.

The new school year start date for four campuses is Monday, Aug. 22, according to Superintendent Donna Becnel.

Parents of students enrolled in the following schools are asked to plan on having their children at school in time for the beginning class time noted by each school:

– Burns Valley Elementary, 8:15 a.m.;
– East Lake Elementary, 8 a.m.;
– Konocti Education Center (including the School for the Arts and Health Magnet School), 8:10 a.m.;
– Pomo Elementary, 7:50 a.m.

Becnel said district staff currently are cleaning schools in the Lower Lake area in anticipation of reopening.

She said those schools will reopen as soon as the district can assure a safe learning environment for students and staff.

The district's schools in Lower Lake include Blue Heron School, Carlé Continuation High School, Lewis Center, Lower Lake Elementary and Lower Lake High School.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg reported this week that some of Konocti Unified's schools had been damaged by the fire, in particular, Lower Lake Elementary, which had damage to several portable classrooms.

Updates will be posted at the district Web site at www.konoctiusd.org .

In related news, the Woodland Community College Lake County Campus in Clearlake, which also was closed because of the fire, will hold its first day of the fall semester on Monday as well, a delay of one week from its original start date, as Lake County News has reported.

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