When the tornado tore through Charleston Middle School on June 17th, it left the Charleston CUSD #1 Board of Education with a real problem: where do you safely put almost 400 middle schoolers by August… when their building has been deemed unusable? An easy place to turn was just down the road, and it’s going to make this upcoming school year look unlike any other. Here is how Charleston CUSD #1 is partnering with Eastern Illinois University to pull off the relocation and what parents, students, and the teachers themselves need to know before the first day of school comes rolling around!
The New “Campus”
Instead of their usual hallways, Charleston Middle School students are heading to college for at least the first semester. The school district is basically “renting” the first two floors of Coleman Hall on EIU’s campus.
While EIU classes scheduled for those floors are being shifted to other buildings, university professors and staff with offices in Coleman Hall will stay put.
The move is entirely necessary. The tornado ripped the roof deck right off the middle school, flooding 12 classrooms, the gym, the cafeteria, the library, and the locker rooms. Repairs are expected to top $3 million, and Superintendent Chad Burgett doesn’t expect students to set foot back in Charleston Middle School until at least Christmas, at that point, the close of the first semester.
Bus Routes, Parking, and Security
Since a university campus is a lot busier than a typical middle school, the district has mapped out some strict guidelines to keep things organized and most importantly, safe:
Buses: Drop-off/pickup will be on 7th Street, staying off the busier 4th and 9th Streets.
Parent Drop-off/Pickup: Head to “W-Lot,” which is located southwest of Taylor Hall.
Staff and Visitor Parking: CMS staff will park in W-Lot using EIU permits. There will also be three designated spots reserved for visitors, making due with what’s available.
Safety and Tech: Charleston Middle School will be setting up its own secure Wi-Fi network and a separate security camera system inside Coleman Hall.
Building Access: Most entrances to Coleman Hall will remain locked! Parents must use the northeast entrance, while EIU staff will use the southeast entrance.
Lunch and Athletics
Middle schoolers won’t be eating alongside college students, but they will be using Thomas Hall’s dining room as a temporary cafeteria. However, it only holds 200 kids at a time, so lunch will run in shifts.
The school plans to serve its regular breakfast and lunch menus, though they might supplement this with Eastern’s catering or even “off-campus” meal deliveries, as they figure out the new kitchen setup.
As for fall sports? Those plans are being ironed out between the Athletic Department and the Board of Education itself. You can assume these will likely not be played at the Middle School but things can change.
What’s Next for Parents and Teachers?
Teachers ARE allowed to head into the damaged Charleston Middle School building starting next week to pack up essential classroom items. The hope is to make the temporary college classrooms feel like home, though space is limited, so teachers are being asked to pack light.
For families looking for more details, the school district is holding parent meetings on August 3rd, 2026 in the Charleston High School auditorium. No appointment necessary.
For 7th Grade Parents: 5:30 p.m., and for those 8th Grade Parents: 6:30 p.m.
As of right now, this is what has been announced. As mentioned, fall athletics are still being worked out. It will be a very different school year for everyone involved!
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