Repairs to schools in Nokomis are well underway after the severe weather on March 15, which included a tornado touching down in town.  The damage was primarily limited to the gym roofs at the junior/senior high school and led to only one day of the school being closed.  The school district is looking to secure plans for longer-term fixes as they also approach the final phase of the preexisting renovation plans originally conceived nearly a decade ago.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Doerr has been overseeing these plans.  He says school has been in session in person since the one-day closure, with steps taken to mitigate the effects of the damage. 

He adds that because of the damage mitigation, the gyms themselves are safe to use.

Dr. Doerr says initial full repair estimates bring the expected cost of this effort to around $1.3 million.

The school district is insured through Prairie State Insurance, which is expected to assist significantly with defraying the costs of repairs.

On top of that, construction will take place over the summer for the final part of a years-long renovation plan.  Science classrooms and the gyms are the focus of work at the junior/senior high school.

The elementary school is also set to see major work throughout the building to modernize it. 

More information on Nokomis CUSD #22 is available at www.nokomis.k12.il.us and on their Facebook page. 

Dr. Scott Doerr appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.