Panel Sides With Diocese In Dispute With Insurer Over Tornado Damage To School

An arbitration panel has sided with the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese in a dispute with its’ insurance company over the damage done to Springfield’s only catholic high school by the June 1, 2011 tornado.

The panel, by a 2 to one vote put the replacement cost for Cathedral High School and the Saint Michael’s Academy Middle School at almost $ 49 million.  The insurance company, Catholic Mutual, had proposed a settlement totaling less than $18 million to cover the tornado damage.  A spokesman for the diocese, Mark Dupont, said the decision is not binding on the insurance carrier.

Since the tornado 25  months ago , the city’s only  Catholic high school has held classes in a leased former elementary school in the town of Wilbraham.