Some high school students in Tempe had to relocate after a thunderstorm "basically blew off" the roof of one of their school's buildings, a district spokesperson said.
A severe thunderstorm swept through the Valley on August 19, causing the auditorium roof of Tempe Union High School District's Marcos de Niza High School to be severely damaged.
Megan Sterling, a spokesperson for Tempe Union, told The Arizona Republic the majority of the damage was contained to the auditorium, but a small number of classrooms nearby had to be relocated.
The following morning, the school informed students and families that classes would continue "as scheduled."
Sterling said the area surrounding the damage was closed off until its structural integrity could be examined.
Students will remain in their relocated classrooms until further notice.
"The restoration company has been on-site since last night to assess the damage and clean up debris," Sterling said in a statement. "Student and staff safety is a top priority and all appropriate safety measures are in place to ensure no disruption to learning."
Marcos de Niza High School is located near Guadalupe Road and Lakeshore Drive in south Tempe.
Coverage of education solutions on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is partially supported by a grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Monsoon storm damages roof at Marcos de Niza High School
