Board approves funds to repair $5M storm damage at Wheeling High School

WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) -- Storm damage at Wheeling High School could cost up to $5 million and repairs must be done immediately. Board members held an emergency meeting Thursday morning to approve the repair job.

Last Friday's storms tore off a portion of the roof and caused heavy damage to the field house right after classes ended.

"It was right at dismissal. The school bell rang at 2:50 p.m. We lost power at 2:51 p.m. We helped our students inside," said Angie Ginnan, associate principal at Wheeling High School.

Dumpsters full of ruined equipment sat outside the field house, where the northwest suburban high school's gym classes and athletics take place.

"All our fall and winter athletic events will have to be relocated, the other schools in the district have reached out to help us as well as our district office," Ginnan said.

In order to replace the roof and repair the damage quickly, Northwest Suburban High School District 214 needed to waive the usual competitive bidding process.

The money will come out of the district reserves. But they're likely to get reimbursed because the school has filed an insurance claim.