Lightning fire closed the high school gym; school year ended early and repairs run into 2027

What happened

A fire believed to have been caused by lightning hit the McCormick High School gym roof on May 22, 2026. Students did not return to campus for the rest of the year, and graduation was moved to another county. Both gym floors and the high school bleachers had to be replaced. The middle school gym reopened in August. The high school gym roof was being rebuilt in October. Plans for its electrical, HVAC and sprinkler work were still to come, and the district said it expected to finish by December 31.

Why it matters to families

Students lost the last week of school, and the high school gym is still out of use. The district says insurance covers the repairs except a $5,000 deductible. At the October 16 meeting a board member asked about air quality before an overnight event in the middle school gym. Staff said no air quality check had been done since the summer all-clear.

The evidence

Board meeting recordings: the June 8, 2026 fire recovery update and deductible; July 13 and August 10 updates; September 14 timeline; October 12 roof work; and the October 16 air quality question.

The source