Perry County School District #32 eligible for FEMA Disaster Relief funding
PERRYVILLE, Mo., (KBSI) — The Perry County School District 32 is eligible to receive federal disaster relief funding to aid in recovery efforts following a devastating tornado that damaged multiple school buildings on March 14.
Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones will apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which announced on May 23 that federal disaster aid is available to Missouri for areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires on March 14-15.
The district’s high school and Old Senior High School sustained significant damage, while other schools received varying degrees of damage. FEMA’s public assistance program can provide up to 75% of costs for approved tornado-related repairs, with the district responsible for funding the remaining 25%.
“Our goal is to utilize any available FEMA funding to better serve our students and staff during the long-term recovery process,” Dr. Jones said. “We recognize that rebuilding our high school will take time, during which our students and staff will be displaced. We hope to create effective and comfortable temporary learning environments in the interim.”
The district is fully insured through the Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC). Dr. Jones has hired Brockmiller Construction as construction manager and SAPP Design as the architectural and engineering firm to oversee the recovery process.
A special board meeting is scheduled for June 6 to approve bids for permanent roof repairs at several buildings.
