(MOBILE, Ala.) - The Mobile County School District will have a better idea by the end of the week as to whether a complete restoration of Murphy High School will be possible.
Operations Coordinator Tommy Sheffield said Tuesday the school board will be meeting with insurance adjusters Friday to find out the scope of the damage done by the EF-2 tornado on Christmas day, and what will be covered under insurance.
So far the school district set aside $8 million for repairs. Half of the money will come from the district's capital funds, and the other half will come from a construction bond. Officials said that money will be paid back.
Sheffield hopes for funds from the State of Alabama and FEMA to help with the repairs, and possible restoration.
"We're looking at maybe $10 million to put the kids back in the campus by August, and maybe $35 million to go over the next two years to full restore Murphy," Sheffield said
Sheffield said restoring means refurbishing the more than 80-year-old, storm-battered buildings, and install new technology in the buildings to last for future generations.
"We've got to have the funds to make long-range plans for renovation, and/or restoring Murphy," Sheffield said.
While architecture is one financial battle, horticulture is another. Murphy High School Alumni Association President Carmen Kearley said they've been raising money for the staples of campus while repairs are done.
"We're sort of tree-care, beautification, iron fence, some of things that were put up there that aren't within the scope of their budget," Kearley said.
The alumni association said so far they've raised $10,000 through their Website.
