Officials plan to re-build PCHS

At Thursday’s meeting of the Franklin County School Board, Superintendent Gary Williams told the board they were hoping to soon begin the process of rebuilding Phil Campbell High School and making repairs at Phil Campbell Elementary and East Franklin Junior High.

According to Williams, PCES and EFJHS sustained minor damages, but the main building of PCHS has been condemned because the structural integrity of the walls had been compromised.

Williams said he felt the best move at this point would be to level PCHS and rebuild from scratch, and money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the school’s insurance and the State Department of Education should help cover the cost.

“Unofficially, the gym and the library have not been condemned, but they are old buildings that were hit by and EF5 tornado,” Williams said.

He added the resolution passed by the state to help with costs not covered by the insurance companies or FEMA would be a big help in rebuilding the school.

“None of this is official right now,” Williams said. “This is just what we want to do – the direction we plan to head.”

As of Thursday, Williams said they were checking on securing temporary units to go between PCHS and PCES for the kids to start school in come August.

“This is going to be a long process, but we’re hoping to be in our new building by August of 2013,” Williams said. “But once again, this is just what we’re hoping for. It’s going to depend on several factors for that goal to be met.”

Williams said they hoped to get the school leveled this summer and they should know more about when that process can begin once they hear back from their insurance in a couple of weeks.

“We’re ready to get started and get this process underway,” Williams said. “We’re ready to rebuild.”