Concern expressed over Murphy repairs

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Talk of rebuilding Murphy High School sparked some passionate comments Wednesday, January 23 at the Mobile County School Board meeting.

Concerned alumni and faculty showed up to voice their concern over where the Mobile County Public School System is going with the construction plans.

There is a lot of work to be done to get students back at Murphy, and those who hold the school dear to their heart want to see it done right.

Frances Sibley spent a majority of her life as a teacher and administrator at Murphy.

"I can tell you the passion that everybody has, they all remember," said Sibley.

Her school is now a construction zone. It's a sad sight for many like Sibley.

They want to see it back the way it was and went to the school board meeting with a message. 

"Don't just band aid us," said Sibley.

The school system's facilities director Tommy Sheffield said it is working with the insurance company and the contractor and are fixing the damage.

"There is no band aid," said Sheffield.

Work on replacing the roofs has already started, but Sibley wants more.

"We don't just need to replace the windows and sweep out the debris and get back to class. We need to bring the buildings that are not up to snuff, bring them up to the ones that are,” said Sibley.

Sheffield said renovations are not going to happen.

"It did not obtain any further damage other than the auditorium and minor leaks, so the insurance is not going to come out there and renovate the school for us,” said Sheffield.

Sheffield said there is no money for renovations but Sibley said we need to expand all options.

"Don’t let thinking you don’t have the money stop you. Go find the money. If it's the state legislature, some special something from the governor's office, whatever it takes,” said Sibley.

Sheffield said students will be back at Murphy for the start of the next school year. He doesn't think the repairs will be finished, but the school will function around it.