Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities And Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District pursues $2.5 million FEMA/TEMA safe-room grant, reports recent facility repairs and security grant opportunity
Summary
South Carroll County Special School District officials told the Board on May 15 they are pursuing a proposed Pre-K facility and community safe room using a joint TEMA/FEMA grant estimated at $2.5 million and reported recent repairs to the fire suppression system and storm-damage roof costs.
South Carroll County Special School District officials told the Board of Education on May 15 that they are pursuing a proposed Pre-K facility and community safe room through a joint TEMA/FEMA funding application estimated at $2.5 million and reported several recent facility repairs and security-improvement plans. Dr. Lisa Norris, the district director of schools, and Donna McDaniel-Cox, the district treasurer, said the plan would place a safe room on the current Pre-K playground site and that the application team is developing required architectural and environmental documentation.
The district outlined the proposed funding split for the safe-room project as 75 percent FEMA, 12.5 percent TEMA and a 12.5 percent district match, which the board noted would be about $312,500. Mrs. McDaniel-Cox and Dr. Norris said TLM is assisting with the scope of work and architectural documentation and that McDaniel-Cox is researching environmental-review requirements.
The safe-room discussion followed a facilities update to the board. Dr. Norris said technicians repaired a ground fault in Unit 18 of the fire suppression system at A.D. Jarrett Gym after April storm-related water intrusion and that emergency overflow routes were installed; the system returned to full operational status. The director also reported wind and hail roof damage from the April storms with an estimated repair cost of $3,890; the district will submit that repair and the fire-system work to Tennessee Risk Management, with a $1,000 deductible.
Dr. Norris told the board the district deposited $250,000 into a Carroll Bank money-market account on May 12 as part of regular financial management.
Separately, the board was told the U.S. Department of Justice STOP School Violence Grant has been released and is due in June 2025. Dr. Norris said Ms. Maureen Meyers will assist with grant writing. As part of related security planning, the district said a vendor introduced by eCare will propose a secure vestibule for the school lobby and Musco Lighting is preparing an estimate for expanded parking-lot lighting.
No formal board vote was recorded on the FEMA/TEMA application or the STOP grant during the meeting; Dr. Norris and Mrs. McDaniel-Cox described these as ongoing application and planning steps.
The board also received student-discipline statistics for April 1–May 12, 2025, included in the director's monthly report.
The district plans to continue preparing the FEMA/TEMA application and supporting documentation and to pursue the STOP grant before its June deadline.
