Lawrence High School’s phone system will be off-line from 1 to 5 p.m. today while the phone system is replaced.

The phone system has to be replaced because of electrical damage, which stemmed from thunderstorms or power surges, said Lawrence Public Schools spokeswoman Julie Boyle.

Mike Eltschinger, director of information technology services for the district, said Tip N Ring, a phone maintenance company, was called to evaluate LHS’s phone systems after people reported voice mail problems and phantom phone calls.

To fix the problems, Tip N Ring estimated it would cost $4,500 to $5,000 to repair the phone system or $8,818 to replace.

Eltschinger said the district will replace the system because it will be updated technology and the school could continue using the phones already in place. The replacement cost does include installation of the new system, training and a few new digital phones, Eltschinger said.

Other schools in the district, including Hillcrest Elementary, Central Junior High and East Heights Early Childhood Family Center, have also had issues with their phone systems.

Part of the problem could be that schools are working with phone systems that are 10 to 11 years old, Eltschinger said.