McCullough Academy students are returning to their Gary school on Tuesday, less than a month after a March 19 EF-1 tornado ripped a portion of the roof off above the gymnasium.

More than 500 students relocated last week to the Gary Area Career Center, where school leaders set up makeshift classrooms and students adjusted to the larger, unfamiliar environment.

On Monday, Gary Community School Corp. officials announced classes would resume Tuesday as gymnasium repairs take place.

A release said the affected area has been safely cordoned off, allowing classes to resume.

Officials said normal bus and school times will also resume. Bus riders will be dropped off and picked up at Door E, next to the gym entrance.

The return to McCullough, at 3757 W. 21st Ave., comes a week before the state’s ILEARN assessment exam begins April 14.

Superintendent Yvonne Stokes didn’t have a timetable for the return to McCullough last week, but she said if it happened, all safety precautions needed to be in place.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.