By Alabama Public Radio
Mobile, AL – At least ten classrooms were flooded at LeFlore High School in Mobile County over the weekend. Thieves pulled copper metal piping from a main water line. The theft disabled the school's heating and cooling system. Most of the water damage was confined to classroom floors. Officials had feared the air conditioning would not be fixed when Mobile County public school classes resume next week. But Thomas Sheffield, executive director of facilities, says he's optimistic about classes being able to start on time. Sheffield estimates the cost of the damage at about 60-thousand dollars. He says that figure could rise to 500-thousand dollars if the heating and cooling system is ruined.