Despite June fire, Lowellville High School will open Aug. 26

LOWELLVILLE — Lowellville High School will open as scheduled Aug. 26 in spite of extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the building caused when lightning struck its roof June 13.

Officials have estimated the overall cost of both interior and exterior repairs at $270,000, said schools Superintendent Rocco Nero.

Insurance will pay for all the repairs, Nero added.

Interior repairs, like the replacement of damaged ceiling tiles and duct work, have already begun, he said at today's school board meeting.

Nero added he’s hopeful that roof repairs — costing an estimated $150,000 — will start Thursday, weather permitting.

The early-morning fire was contained to a 150-foot strip on the peak of the school’s roof that extended down 2 feet on each side.

“Progress is really being made,” Nero said. “There’s never a good time for something like this, but we were fortunate it happened when it did.”

All the computers and other technology equipment in the building at the time of the fire are fine, Nero said, thanks to firefighters attempting to protect the items as much as they could while fighting the blaze.