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With Most Tornado Damage Fixed, Grayslake Central H.S. Ready For New School Year

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Less than two weeks after being hit by a tornado, Grayslake Central High School was set to open its new school year on Thursday.

Grayslake Community High School District 127 Supt. Catherine Finger said everything is on schedule for the first day of class at Grayslake Central.

Freshman orientation was held Monday, and teachers showed up for work Tuesday. Classes start at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

When an EF-1 tornado hit on Aug. 2, pieces of the school roof were ripped off, and landed on nearby properties. Windows and glass from doors were shattered, and heating and air conditioning units were damaged. A baseball dugout also was destroyed and bleachers were damaged, but Finger said most damage has been repaired.

Grayslake Central Damage
Roof damage at Grayslake Central High School after an Aug. 2 tornado. (Credit: CBS)

"Everything's back the way it should be. We do have a few lingering repairs, but nothing that's changing our operations," Finger said.

The roof is completely fixed, but some broken glass needs to be replaced.

"We have a couple boarded windows that … the glass didn't come in yet; some of our larger windows, and a couple of glass doors. So they're boarded up, and completely safe," Finger said. "It's a bit of an eyesore, but it certainly is safe."

One heating and air conditioning unit won't be up and running until next week, but two other HVAC units and a temporary replacement are running.

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