WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R. La) announced $3.8 million in FEMA Public Assistance Grants today to help recover from the devastating flooding in 2016.  Ascension Parish School Board will receive $1.2 million in grants to repair 12 buildings and facilities at Galvez Middle School.  Livingston Parish School Board will receive $2.6 million in grants to fund emergency protective measures and provide temporary HVAC services to five schools located in Denham Springs.

 “I am happy to announce that $3.8 million in funds has been awarded to the Ascension and Livingston Parish School Boards to help rebuild after the flood,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “It is important that we work together to ensure that the schools in Louisiana have the means necessary to continue to educate our youth.  These funds will go a long way to help our schools recover after the devastating flooding.”

“On behalf of the Ascension Parish School Board, and our community, we are excited to see the restorative project at Galvez Middle School become one step closer to being obligated.  Our team has been working with FEMA since the disaster, and we were able to recapture most of our expenses before the mandatory NFIP insurance reductions and our 10% required share.  The project is almost complete, and we anticipate the students and faculty will begin the 2018-19 school year in their newly restored campus,” said Ascension Parish Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander. “We are grateful for the support of our congressional and Senate leaders as they continue to fight to reduce the burden of the NFIP reductions, which will reallocate funds back to the classroom, where they belong.”

“This FEMA funding assistance will replace monies previously expended in the recovery of the Livingston Parish School System” said Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Rick Wentzel.  “We are appreciative of all of our state congressional delegates with assisting Livingston Parish Public Schools in flood recovery.”

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