NORTHWOOD (AP) - Officials are trying to keep students together after a tornado that severely damaged this town and its school.

They also are trying to resume the fall high school sports schedule with as little disruption as possible.

"We want to do the most we can to get the students back to a normal routine," Hatton-Northwood athletic director John Hutchison said. "It is important for us to get them their season."

Superintendent Kevin Coles said one insurance adjuster calculated the cost of fixing the school at $1 million. Other building experts wonder if the school can be saved.

"We believe it is" salvageable, Coles said.

Northwood has 250 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Some parents and teachers have expressed worries that some families might enroll their children in surrounding schools.

Coles said officials are considering various options to keep the students together.

Hatton School Board member Kevin Wold said school officials there are making every effort to allow all Northwood students to attend classes in Hatton. The two schools 12 miles apart already share teachers and sports teams.

In July, Northwood voters overwhelmingly approved a plan to combine the two schools, but Hatton voters defeated the measure because all high school students would have attended classes in Northwood.

As for sports, "We're actually doing pretty well," Hutchison said. Hatton-Northwood's only cancellation so far is Thursday's cross country meet at Northwood Golf Course.

The Hatton-Northwood football team will play its scheduled game Friday night in LaMoure.

"It will be good for the kids," coach Justin Foss said. "Maybe a football game can bring the community together."