Murphy parents, teachers want answers

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - After a tornado destroyed Murphy High School Christmas Day, 2,300 displaced students are in need of a new school and fast.

While cleanup continues on their midtown campus, they're being transferred to a school miles away in the west side of Mobile.

It’s not an easy undertaking, especially on a tight deadline. Wednesday, Jan. 2, hundreds of parents and students filled an auditorium to learn what to expect.

It was standing room only inside the Mobile Civic Center theatre. All the seats were taken and the overflow room was overflowing- all for a late night lesson.

"We’re just gonna have to deal with it for a while,” said student Xicarri Cade.

Murphy High School was wrecked by an EF-2 tornado. And starting Monday, Jan 7, students will be moving into a new home at Clark-Shaw Magnet School across town.

"It’s a learning experience for everyone,” said Murphy parent Carol Jackson.

Wednesday’s information meeting updated parents and students on the situation, and it’s raising some concerns.

Murphy parent Jillian Swope said, "Now to get [my student] to Shaw, it adds another 30 minutes. So we're here to figure out what we're gonna do."

Cade said, "It might be a little crowded at Clark because it’s kinda small, and there's a lot of kids that go to Murphy."

Some folks wanted to know about class offerings or severe weather plans.

Moving a school across the city is a lot of work, especially in short notice, but officials emphasize they're doing the best they can in the interest of the students.

Everyone we spoke to wants Murphy repaired but for now, there may be some perks to this new arrangement.

Student William Chestnut said, "It's frustrating in some aspects, it's not frustrating in that I don't have to be there until 8:35. That is not frustrating; that is fantastic news!”

And Thursday, Jan. 3, Clark-Shaw parents are invited to an informative meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Clark-Shaw Magnet School.