Although the Mattapoisett Community Preservation Committee has approved a donation of $51,500 towards the renovation of the Center School clock, Ray Andrews still wants to see more community involvement.

Andrews, who has headed up the efforts to restore the clock for the past year said, “I’m hoping to have about $10,000 in the revolving account. It will also allow future graduates and future donors to continue to donate money.”

Clock repairs are already in progress at Balzer Family Clock Work in Freeport, Maine thanks to the $27,380 of donations Andrews has already collected.

Those donations, he said, came from 266 contributors, many of them Center School alumni.

Andrews has maintained an online listing of donors and their graduation year, some dating as far back as the class of 1906. So far, graduates from 1955 and older have been the clock’s biggest supporters.

“My goal is to get as many alumni listed in this book and to get as many general donors as possible,” he said.

Andrews said most people have found out about the restoration project through word of mouth. He admitted, “It’s been slow going, but we’re getting it done.”

The committee’s donation, pending approval at May Town Meeting, will makeup the almost $70,000 originally needed for the clock’s restoration with some left to spare.

Andrews said an additional $5,000 is needed to relocate the clock to the school’s music room where it will be kept behind a glass wall and visible to the public.

“Whatever the balance is that we have left over will go into the revolving fund, which will be for perpetual care of maintenance of the clock and the exterior of the clock dial,” he said.

If all goes as planned, Andrews said, “By July the clock should be back in the building and ringing again.”

Once completed, Andrews will be the first clock keeper, but he’ll be looking for a replacement.

“I’m going to try to find an apprentice,” he said. “I’m 60 now. I figure I’m good for at least another 10 to 15 years.”