Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
McDowell leaders outline progress on Old Fort, Pleasant Gardens repairs and FEMA claim timeline
Summary
Board members received updates on temporary classrooms at Pleasant Gardens, gym floor and other repairs at Old Fort, and were told the district has 90 days from Jan. 8 to inventory storm losses for a FEMA reimbursement claim due April 11.
McDowell County Schools officials on Tuesday detailed progress repairing storm-damaged facilities, installing temporary classrooms at Pleasant Gardens Elementary and preparing an inventory for FEMA reimbursement.
The district showed photos of a new modular classroom unit at Pleasant Gardens with four classrooms, restrooms and exterior HVAC hookups, and said the site has passed county inspection. District staff reported they are awaiting Duke Energy to install a new power pole and complete electrical hookups; water and sewer connections were scheduled to begin the next day. If Duke Energy completes the work this week, the district said it hopes to start housing students in the unit the following week.
Officials also described ongoing work at Old Fort School. Workers replaced the gym floor, removed and temporarily moved bleachers to complete sanding, and will repaint court lines and the school emblem before applying a protective coat. District staff said two remaining heating units at Old Fort require ordered parts and that additional exterior mini-split units are under contract for less-critical spaces.
"We had our recovery scoping meeting [with FEMA] on January 8," the district's recovery lead told the board. "We have 90 days from that date, which would get us to April 11, to identify any loss that we have for a claim." She said the inventory must list all damages—even items expected to be covered by insurance—because FEMA assistance is reimbursement-based and decisions come after insurance and other funding are accounted for.
The district said it has been working with county partners and the Army Corps of Engineers to remove debris and restore the Old Fort stream bed. Transportation and maintenance crews have cleared parking and bus lots after recent storms, and the district purchased portable heaters to keep classrooms usable while HVAC repairs were completed.
Board members thanked staff and outside partners for work on roads and emergency services coordination. Officials emphasized that FEMA would reimburse losses to restore the district to its pre-storm condition rather than fund improvements beyond that baseline.
Ending: District staff asked the board to continue tracking items for the April 11 FEMA inventory deadline; no formal vote was taken on the facilities updates.
