Lawrence County High School Under Repair from July 5th Macroburst

MOULTON, Ala. (WHNT) – Classes for most schools in North Alabama begin in less than two weeks.

In Moulton, there’s a school with more than $100,000 worth of new technology equipment that the students and staff won last year in a national online contest.

WHNT NEWS 19 went to the school Tuesday to capture images of that equipment, but found it’s not hooked up yet.  That’s because the staff is still trying to repair severe weather damage done by a macroburst on July 5th.

Nonetheless, with a pile of debris from storm damage stacked up outside, a tarp over the gymnasium and other problems to fix, the principal of Lawrence County High School had this to say about the start of school in less than two weeks: “Very excited about this year!”

Principal Jean Howard showed WHNT NEWS 19 the gym, which will have to be totally replaced and cannot be used this school year due to water and possible structural damage.

And that’s not all.

“It damaged the science department of our school, which included four classrooms and the technology section,” said Howard of the fierce storm.

Crews have been working hard to repair the science and technology wing, but they don’t know yet if there’s any damage to $120,000 worth of new technology equipment the students and staff just won from a national online contest at the end of last year.

Most of it had just been delivered to the school when the storm hit.

“To this date, we have not been able to hook everything up to check it and see if any of it was severely damaged,” said Howard.

On Tuesday morning, Lawrence County School Superintendent Heath Grimes was on the school’s roof with insurance adjustors, trying to figure out the costs of the storm damage.

“I originally said between $800,000 and $900,000,” said Heath Grimes.  “We think that’s probably around $1.8 to 1.9 million now at this point.”

He says insurance will pay for all of it.

“Just the roof alone is probably a $600,000 project,” said Grimes.

As for the school’s gym, it was built in 1962.  Grimes is still trying to determine if it would be more cost effective to build a new one than try to repair the old one.

In the meantime, students will get a little extra exercise during P.E. classes, having to walk across the parking lot to the Moulton Coliseum for those classes.

Despite the inconveniences, Howard remained optimistic.  “Just gonna be a great school year, I know!” said Howard with a big smile.  She said classes at Lawrence County High School will begin on time on August 20th.  The storm damage and repairs should not affect students and the instructional processes of the school year.

Due to the damage to the gym, all volleyball and basketball practices and games for Lawrence County High School will be held in either the coliseum or the Moulton Middle School gymnasium.