VISD updates board on FEMA, insurance from Harvey repairs

Oct. 19--Of the 55 projects the Victoria school district has with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Texas Division of Emergency Management, 28 projects have been reimbursed, school officials said.

"I think it's very important the community hears it and we hear it," said board president Tami Keeling about monitoring the reimbursement process and reporting it to the community.

The Victoria school board listened to an update at Thursday's meeting about where the district stands with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and insurance on projects to repair damages caused by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.

Lisa Blundell, assistant superintendent of administration, and Tammy Sestak, executive director of elementary curriculum, instruction and accountability, provided the update to the board.

The total amount the district is eligible, as of Oct. 11, is about $1.7 million from the federal agency. The district has received, as of Oct. 11, about $1.4 million.

Sestak said the 26 projects remain in the Federal Emergency Management Agency portal are mainly building repairs. One project also remains from the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

The next step is to work through the mitigation process with those projects to prevent future damage, which include hurricane straps on HVAC equipment and doors that prevent water from entering, she said.

Officials are working with the agency to make sure all the damages are listed in the damage report. Officials are also working to determine if the scope and cost estimates are in line with actual expenses, she said.

The district has received about $3.5 million, as of Sept. 28, from insurance, and is waiting for about $4 million more, Blundell said.

The next steps include installing the elevator in the administration building, settling disputes on roof repairs and installing the large kitchen items, such as ovens, for the child nutrition department, she said. Similar reports will be provided every other month for the board and community, said Superintendent Quintin Shepherd.

Although the reimbursement process has been slow, the district is recouping the funds, he said. It is unclear when the district will be fully reimbursed because it depends on when the funds are released.

"We will try to get every penny back as fast and as soon as we can," Shepherd said.

Gabriella Canales reports on education for the Victoria Advocate. She may be reached at gcanales@vicad.com or 361-580-6578.

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