Schools

Summit School District Receives $21K in FEMA Assistance Following Sandy

On March 15 the district received the first of three claims through FEMA.

 

Editor's Note: This information was originally published on the Summit School District's website.

The Summit Public School District continues its efforts to reclaim expenses as a result of Superstorm Sandy. In the wake of the third major storm to hit Summit in the past two years, the Business Office worked diligently to compile detailed documentation to reclaim unanticipated emergency management expenses associated with the storm.

While the district's immediate priority was to secure property and ensure safety for students, staff and visitors, Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School played a vital role in providing the community with shelter, warmth, and communication tools. At the height of the operation, the shelter provided services for more than 200 people per day and housed up to 20 overnight guests. This response required custodial overtime, natural gas consumption, for two large scale generators at Summit High School and LCJSMS, as well as materials such as sand bags, portable generators, and portable lamps used for storm clean up and emergency preparedness.

Shortly after the storm hit, administration and staff began managing the process of post storm activities designed to restore normal operations.  Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Nathan Parker, and Manager of Building and Grounds, Angelo Palumbo met daily with city officials as part of the Office of Emergency Management meetings to ensure effective communications and status updates on the impact to the schools.  At the same time, School Business Administrator, Louis Pepe attended a Regional Project Formulation Meeting held in Secaucus with representatives from State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to plan and review the Federal Request For Public Assistance application. 
 
On March 15th, through the combined efforts of the Business Office, the district received $21,073 for Emergency Protective Measures. This was 75% of the total application amount and the maximum allowable reimbursement percentage for all applicants.  This is the first of three claims, with two outstanding requests totaling $10,500. The claims are $9,500 for tree removal and a $1,000 deductible from property insurance for related claims totaling $8,347.

“I am grateful for the cooperation and timely response to our claim demonstrated by the FEMA agents,” said Business Administrator Louis Pepe, RSBA. “The district was fortunate not to have sustained major damage like so many other districts and residents across the state. However, given the ongoing challenges facing all budgets, the replenishment of unanticipated expenditures allows us to remain focused on our mission of delivering quality education in a fiscally responsive manner.”

This situation represents the second successful claim resolved with federal assistance from FEMA; the last being $15,027 in 2011 following the December 2010 Severe Winter Storm Event.

“On behalf of the district, I would like to thank the City of Summit OEM along with the County OEM for their continued assistance and especially commend the efforts of Elizabeth Boak in the Business Office for her hard work and determination in detailing all costs incurred for the necessary claim submissions,” Pepe said.  

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