ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 30, 2009 ELCA School, College Remain Closed Due to Red River Flooding 09-074-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Oak Grove Lutheran School, Fargo, N.D., canceled classes and activities March 30-April 3 as the school community continues to deal with flooding, snow and cold temperatures. Oak Grove is a school of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It serves students from prekindergarten to grade 12. "The school is located along the Red River, near where a levee broke. It is expected that the campus is flooded, but the extent is not yet known," according to Donna Braband, director for schools, ELCA Vocation and Education. According to the school's Web site a breach in a permanent dike, located on the north side of campus, caused water from the river to flow into Benson Hall and Jackson Hall March 29. With the help of Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, Oak Grove staff and the community, water was pumped out of the center of campus in an effort to stabilize the situation. Classes are scheduled to resume April 6 at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. College officials are monitoring flood conditions and will alert students and faculty to any changes. The college canceled classes starting March 24 to allow students, staff and others to participate in sandbagging and other flood control efforts. Concordia is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA. - - - Information about Oak Grove Lutheran School is at http://www.oakgrovelutheran.com and Concordia College at http://www.cord.edu on the Internet. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog