As students return to the classroom, Granite City teachers at Prather Elementary recount riding out May tornado inside school

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) -Teachers across the Granite City School District welcomed students back to the classroom on Thursday.

For the first time since the district announced the restructuring of its elementary schools, students in kindergarten through sixth grade filled the halls of Prather Elementary, formally a pre-k and kindergarten center for Granite City Schools.

“It’s not only a fresh year, but a fresh perspective, fresh new group of teachers, we’re excited to have the older students come back, many of which came through Prather in Kindergarten,” said principal Genie Bratten. “We’re excited to welcome everyone home.”

The school district has worked diligently over the summer to make nearly $300,000 worth of repairs to Prather Elementary following the May 16 tornado. Bratten