Quake damage may keep Mat-Su school closed for 3 years

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Matanuska-Susitna Borough school could remain closed for up to three years because of extensive damage from the Nov. 30 earthquake.

Anchorage television station KTVA reports district administrators met Thursday night with parents from Houston Middle School to discuss repair or replacement plans.

Director of operations Mike Brown says the district could replace the entire building or repair the administrative wing and gym and replace the two-story classroom wing.

Engineers have recommended tearing down the classroom wing.

Superintendent Monica Goyette says it could take up to three months to hear how much damage an insurance company will cover.

The middle school could reopen in December 2021 or August 2022, depending on which options are picked.

For now, nearly 800 students from seven grades are at the new Houston Junior-Senior High.

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Information from: KTVA-TV, http://www.ktva.com