Kimberley teachers and students are facing logistical challenges and long commutes to get to the classroom when school resumes on February 1.
The destruction of the single-lane bridge across the Fitzroy River during January's flood event has caused significant upheaval on National Highway 1 for freight companies, businesses and travellers.
It has also split the Fitzroy Valley community and the Kimberley region in half.
The Education Department has been "making plans on plans" to return staff and students to dozens of schools in the region.
While no schools were damaged in the flood, government-owned houses for teachers were.
"We're supporting staff in Fitzroy and Camballin, who've had significant damage to their houses and properties," Kimberley director of education Paul Bridge said.
It has been reported that some staff working in east Kimberley schools were driving thousands of extra kilometres via Alice Springs or leaving vehicles behind to fly to the region.
Mr Bridge said teachers at the Looma Remote Community School (RCS) would take a daily two-hour-return bus ride to work after their government-leased Camballin homes were destroyed in the flooding.
The department is housing about a dozen staff at Willare Roadhouse, near Derby, and providing a bus to and from Looma RCS.
"They'll all travel on the bus. It'll take an hour," Mr Bridge said.
"We've had to resort to this to ensure staff are in another place and safe."
Distance learning on the cards
Meanwhile, Fitzroy Valley District High School students, who would usually drive across the Fitzroy River bridge, will undertake distance learning at their local community primary schools.
A bus, being driven from Kununurra 700 kilometres to the east, will be based on the eastern bank and transport students between communities.
Staff who reside in town but commute to Bayulu RCS, on the eastern side of the river, will live temporarily at the Fitzroy Crossing Lodge.
They would be taken the short distance there by a charter plane.
Mr Bridge said plans would be reviewed once a barge system was set up across the river.
Mr Bridge said the military was moving out of the Fitzroy Valley classrooms this week, ahead of cleaners who would prepare the facility for staff who would arrive on Monday.
Defence Force personnel were also camped at the Department's Broome Camp school, a popular education facility on Cable Beach.
Students from Broome and Derby are encouraged to attend local schools for the interim.
