- April 20, 2024
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Hurricane Irma caused about $217,467 worth of structural damage across Flagler Schools, said Dr. Earl Johnson, director of leadership development, at the School Board workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Flagler Schools Plant Services Director Dave Freeman has been working with his crew to gather the numbers, but they’re still rolling in. Johnson estimates that the district will end up submitting $500,000 or more to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursement.
In comparison, School Board Chairman Trevor Tucker said the district submitted $732,123.72 worth of damages from Hurricane Matthew in Oct. 2016 to FEMA. There is no status update on the reimbursement from Matthew, said Kristy Gavin, Flagler Schools attorney.
While Irma took a toll on Flagler County and its schools, Johnson applauds the district staff in all departments who worked a total of 7,213 hours for Irma-related business.
“It’s amazing to see the way that we can come together as a community in regards to helping one another,” Johnson said. “Thank you to all those who participated and supported our community during this time.”
School Board member Colleen Conklin, who actively coordinated volunteer efforts to clean up Flagler Beach after Irma left many homes flooded, emphasized the importance of checking in with students and their families over the next week, as school just restarted Monday, Sept. 18, “to make sure that we don’t have families in crisis.”
“We’re doing it family by family by family,” said Lynette Shott, Flagler Schools executive director of community and student engagement. “The best thing we’re going to be able to do is look at our kids who are missing two consecutive days (or) three consecutive days and make a personal phone call to the families.”
Superintendent James Tager said the district is also looking for school principals and teachers to look out for students to make sure their needs are being meet.
Free breakfast and lunch is now being offered to all Flagler Schools students through Oct. 20 following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for counties directly impacted by the storm.
