Chilton County High School is planning to have renovations done to the school’s auditorium—and the community’s help is needed.

CCHS recently began the Save-A-Seat campaign to raise money for the refurbishing of the auditorium’s seating.

The auditorium, built in 1962, has seen repairs in lighting, painting, carpet and curtains, but the seats have remained untouched for the past 53 years.

The 1046 seats contain chairs with cushioned seats and wooden backs, mounted to a cement floor.

Fully relying on donations, the auditorium project will include replacing the cushions and upholstery, which are torn and worn-out.

Principal Cynthia Stewart and Capital Campaign Chair Larry Mahaffey are asking the community to partner with CCHS in their endeavors by donating money to the project.

The estimated cost of the project is $157,000.

A donation of $150 will refurbish one auditorium seat, though other donation amounts are gladly accepted.

According to Stewart, the school has received roughly $7,000 in donations for the Save-A-Seat campaign.

“I began to talk to alumni about what they thought needed to be done,” Stewart said. “We chose the auditorium seats as our first project. Anyone who’s been in the auditorium knows that the seats are badly in need of repair.”

Pageants, performances, assemblies and meetings are just of few of the many functions that take place in the auditorium.

“We have the Peach, Relay For Life and Distinguished Young Woman pageants, the Blast from the Past performances, and a lot of community events on top of our school’s events,” Stewart said. “It’s just as much a community auditorium as a school auditorium.”

2016 marks Chilton County High School’s 100th birthday, and Stewart said she hopes to have the project finished before then.

“The goal is to raise the money and have [the project] completed by the end of 2015,” Stewart said. “The school, in name, will be 100 years old in 2016, and we would like to have new seats before our 100-year celebration.”

Stewart said the centennial celebration is in the works, and events will be held for alumni of all ages.

“This school has a lot of heritage,” Stewart said. “We want to continue to make improvements.”

A donor plaque with names of all donors ($50 minimum) will be permanently displayed in the lobby outside the auditorium entrance, Stewart said.

To make a contribution to the Save-A-Seat Campaign, donors may send checks, made payable to Chilton County High School, to the school, located at 1214 7th Street South in Clanton.

Donors may also take donations to the school, or pay via PayPal on the school’s website: chiltoncountyhigh.al.cch.schoolinsites.com.