Peek: Murphy students to attend Clark-Shaw

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County Public School System Superintendent Martha Peek said Murphy High School students will attend Clark Shaw Magnet School after being damaged by a Christmas Day tornado.

As Superintendent Martha Peek said she recently found out there is more damage to the building than meets the eye.

Officials said there was more structural damage to all buildings on campus than first anticipated. They said none of the buildings can be occupied at this time for safety reasons.

Photos: Severe weather damages Murphy

Peek said, “Students will be relocated. We're making a transition to Clark-Shaw Magnet School at this time. It is temporary we won't know how long this will be. Clark-Shaw can a host about 1,200 students, and they currently have about 750.

Peek said an additional 50 trailers are in the process of being put on campus to accommodate the extra students.

They said they are making plans to separate middle and high school students.

Clark-Shaw was a high school at one time so it has a basketball quart and locker rooms so it will accommodate students.

Peek said all Mobile County public schools will report to school on January 3 with the exception of Murphy High School students.

“We're going to have to delay that because the trailers must be pulled in and set up. “

On Thursday, January 3, Murphy students can go to campus to pick up things from their lockers.

Peek said this will be the only time Murphy students can pick up personal items and books from lockers due to construction.

Peek said on Wednesday, January 2 a parent meeting will be at the Mobile Civic Center Theater at 7 pm. regarding schedules and the transition to the Clark-Shaw campus.

Officials said Monday, January 7 is when Murphy students will be introduced to the Clark-Shaw school. Peek said students will have orientation and class assignments.

She said seniors will start their school day on campus on Monday, January 7 until 3:30.

Juniors will come to school that on Tuesday, January 8, and sophomores are scheduled to begin January 9. Murphy High School freshmen will begin January 10.

Peek said on Friday, January 11 all Murphy students will attend Clark-Shaw from 8:30 to 3:30.

Peek said bus transportation will be provided from Clark-Shaw campus to Murphy. Officials said schedules will remain the same as they were last year and bus routes will be added.

For now, officials said Murphy High School enrollment has been frozen so no new students will be accepted.

Officials said there will be no change in the Clark-Shaw schedule, and middle and high school students will be separated. The students will share some common grounds but at separate times.

Peek said she anticipates the school days missed due to the transition will be forgiven.

She said roofs on several of the buildings on Murphy campus were lifted up and were set right back down so the roofs are not connected the walls making the building unsafe.

“The way I understand, the tornado, with the pressure, picked a number of the roofs and then sat them back down. To my eye, they look fine but they are not attached,” said Peek.

Mayor Sam Jones surveyed the campus on Thursday, December 27. He called the damage devastating.

 “This is 2,300 students that have got to be placed somewhere in the next day. So this is really a real, real, task here,” said Jones.

"It’s the spirit it's the Murphy pride, and so we are going to make sure that we get our students located so we can carry on in that tradition,” said Peek.

Stay tuned to FOX10 News and Fox10tv.com for the latest on Murphy High School.