[informavoracious]

Sorry, but I have to ask. Why the heck does it take even $40 MILLION to rebuild a school?

[5thGenTexan]

I have no idea. I have not seen the size of it or the level of destruction. But, if it was a total loss, then there are the furnishings, equipment, books, furniture, etc.

When my son was in HS band, they bought a new marimba. That one instrument cost $10k. They had multiple. The concert tubas (they had 6) run $10k each. The marching ones were less.

Then add in all the other brass instruments (soft metal would not survive a fire), normally school-owned and stored. And that's just the band hall.

Stage equipment if they had a performance hall, books are freaking ridiculous at the prices schools pay ($100+ each), computer labs, a full library, and on and on.

I could easily see the building costing less than the contents.