The first day of class for a few local school districts falls right in the middle of the Iowa State Fair.

However, administrators from the area said they don't foresee problems with absences for students.

The State Fair runs from Aug. 13 through 23 in Des Moines and the first day of class for St. Edmond Catholic Schools and the Fort Dodge Community School District is Aug. 19.

Linda Cline, Webster County 4-H and Youth coordinator, said there won't be too many 4-H'ers affected by the coinciding dates. Those exhibiting livestock will show the first week. Several of those participating in the communication department will have sessions the second week.

However, Cline said about four St. Edmond students requested afternoon sessions in the communication department, so they will miss less of the school day. Others in the county and surrounding areas start school the week following the fair - such as Eagle Grove and Manson districts.

"The families will have to decide what they want to do," Cline said.

Fort Dodge Community School District Superintendent Linda Brock said the overlap in dates has not had a huge impact on people locally.

"We have not had a lot of parents and students that are requesting to be gone. We will handle those requests on an individual basis," Brock said.

Linda Mitchell, elementary and middle school principal for the St. Edmond Catholic School System, said attending the State Fair as a competitor will be handled as an excused absence - similar to any other extracurricular activity.

"That's another obligation that they need to fulfill," Mitchell said. "They've made a commitment to 4-H and they need to go if they're competing."

Contact Angela Burch at (515) 573-2141 or aburch@messengernews.net