LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP): Work is continuing in a Lafayette-area school district to resume classes on Monday for students at two schools badly damaged in last weekend's severe storms.
 
       State schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz wore a hard hat on Thursday as she toured the damage at Southwestern Middle and Mintonye Elementary schools. Tippecanoe School Corp. staffers are preparing classrooms at a middle school with extra space available and a church for about 950 displaced students.
 
       District superintendent Scott Hanback gave Ritz a request that the schools get a five-day exemption from the state's 180-school day requirement because of the storm damage. Ritz says her department will try to give the district some flexibility.
 
       The district is seeking donations of classroom supplies and money to replace destroyed equipment.