Blue Mound, IL (WAND) – Meridian Elementary School suffered significant damage after powerful storms moved through Macon County Wednesday night.

Superintendent Shane Gordon spent Thursday assessing the destruction alongside contractors, architects and community members who gathered to help clean up the aftermath.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Gordon said. “There’s some significant damage.”

According to Gordon, a large portion of the school’s roof was torn away during the storm. In addition to sections where the roof decking and insulation were completely blown off. The district said at least seven classrooms were exposed, leaving much of the school exposed to heavy rainfall.

As rain continued after the roof was damaged, water poured into the building.

“We did spend a couple of hours last night trying to sweep as much of the water out as we could,” Gordon said. “However, there was still a significant amount.”

District crews spent Thursday working to remove standing water and prevent additional damage. Gordon said classrooms throughout the south and west wings of the building experienced water intrusion.

“All of the classrooms on the south and west wings have been affected by water in some way,” he said.

While cleanup efforts are underway, district officials are still determining the full extent of the damage. Architects were on-site on Thursday, conducting assessments to identify structural concerns and develop a repair timeline.

With the start of the 2026-27 school year less than two months away, district leaders are already discussing contingency plans. Gordon acknowledged that reopening Meridian Elementary on schedule may be difficult.

The district is now exploring alternatives for how classes could be conducted if repairs extend into the fall semester. However, Gordon said those decisions will depend on the findings of ongoing inspections and the scope of repairs required.

Despite the uncertainty, Gordon said the Blue Mound community has already begun rallying around the school district.

“There has been an outpouring of contacts and folks reaching out,” Gordon said. “Even last night after the storm, just the number of people that were on the ground assessing things and cleaning things up.”

He estimated that dozens of volunteers were helping with cleanup efforts both at the school and in surrounding neighborhoods that were also impacted by the storm.

For now, the focus remains on securing the building, preventing further damage, and developing a plan to restore a school that serves as a cornerstone of the Blue Mound community.

“We’re going to work as hard as we can to make sure that everything is back as it was,” Gordon said.