Jemison High School launched a long-overdue project this year to renovate its auditorium but will need community support to help fund it.

The project includes reupholstering seats, replacing carpet, repainting walls, repairing floors and revamping the sound system.

Fortunately, the school has enough money to reupholster the auditorium’s 600 seats.

“We have only taken out a section of seats at a time so that we can still have things in the auditorium,” JHS Assistant Principal Diane Calloway said. “It would be great if we could plan to replace the carpet in the summer while school is out.”

Calloway said the auditorium has needed renovating for several years now, but everything besides the seats will require donations in order to be refurbished.

Eighth graders Alexis Hubbard, Brittany Chappell and Kelsey Mitchell wrote an article for the JHS student newspaper explaining ways to donate.

JHS alumni can donate through seat sponsorship. By donating $100, a former student will have his or her name and year of graduation engraved on a plate, and each plate will be attached to the back of a seat in the auditorium.

“We’d like to sell the plaques for all the seats,” Calloway said. “We definitely have had more than that (600) graduate, so that would be a great thing.”

Alumni will also receive certificates of appreciation showing the locations of their plates.

Others can donate $100 to reserve a plaque for former or current employees that would bear the person’s name and years of service. Memory plaques are also $100, and all plaques will be displayed in the auditorium when renovations are completed.

Donations of any amount are appreciated and may be dropped off at Jemison High School, located at 25195 U.S. Highway 31, Jemison, 35085.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Diane Calloway at (205) 280-4860 or dcalloway@chilton.k12.al.us.