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Salina Journal

CARLTON -- If voters in the Chapman School District turn down an $8.2 million bond issue to help rebuild schools devastated by last summer's tornado, it would jeopardize federal aid currently available to help pay for the modular classrooms, but it would not affect aid for the new construction.

Federal disaster aid regulations allow communities to qualify for grants that pay up to 75 percent of the recovery costs not covered by insurance. But work must proceed in a timely fashion, and considerable attention has been focused on July 9, the one-year anniversary of the disaster declaration issued in the wake of the tornado that leveled much of downtown Chapman on June 11, 2008.

"The 75 percent for the reconstruction is not in jeopardy," Bob Wilhelm, an official with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, said at a meeting Wednesday night at the Carlton Community Center. "You do not have to start by July 9."

But there are consequences if ground is not broken by that date, Wilhelm told an audience that approached 100 people.

If work is not going to proceed by the one-year anniversary, the Federal Emergency Management Agency must grant an extension in order to preserve eligibility for assistance with cost of temporary measures, such as modular classrooms and storage expenses.

It's been demoralizing

Students in Chapman are currently in modular classrooms, an experience teachers at the meeting described as demoralizing and disruptive for students.

"I've had more discipline issues in the last three months," said Middle School Principal Bruce Hurford. "This has been a huge thing for our kids. We are in a situation where we can't deliver the same educational value."

Wilhelm explained that there is little guidance on what criteria FEMA will use in deciding whether to allow an extension when the one-year deadline is missed. Federal regulations simply say an extension will be considered if there are "extenuating" circumstances.

Mickey Gamble, a public assistance specialist with FEMA, told the Salina Journal this week that extensions have been granted in the past because bond issues were initially defeated.

A more substantial deadline occurs Jan. 9, 2010, or 18 months from the disaster declaration.

"For permanent work, you have 18 months to complete that project," Wilhelm said. "If you cannot complete that project (in 18 months), you apply for an extension."

He emphasized that these extensions are granted by Kansas officials, not FEMA. While they are not automatic, he told the audience that they are available if the community is making a good faith effort to move forward.

"We work hard to get you those extensions," he said.

Some of the people at the meeting said FEMA officials had told the Chapman School Board that money for reconstruction -- not just money for temporary housing -- would be jeopardized if construction is not started within one year. A fact sheet on the Chapman School District Web site appeared to repeat that message.

However, Wednesday evening, the fact sheet had been revised to emphasize that reimbursements for temporary measures would be jeopardized if the deadline is not met.

Here's why they're bigger

Considerable time -- the meeting lasted more than an hour and a half -- was spent discussing the fact that the Chapman high school, middle school and elementary school will be growing by almost 50 percent, from 212,000 square feet to 312,000 square feet.

Wilhelm stressed that federal funds will help reconstruct only equivalent buildings. The new buildings have been judged to be equivalent by FEMA, because they offer the same functionality, even though they are physically larger, he said.

The need for larger buildings derives from a domino effect. Before the tornado hit, the middle and elementary schools shared several spaces, including kitchen, dining, and gym.

The middle school is in a flood plain, and in order to be eligible for federal aid, the lot must be built up 4.5 feet to take it above the 500-year flood plain elevation. When that is done, there no longer is room in the immediate area for the elementary school, Wilhelm said.

The consequence is that both buildings now have spaces that previously were shared.

A letter from Brent Bowman, the Chapman school project architect, to Chapman Superintendent Tony Frieze notes increases in classroom and educational space:

n Elementary school, from 16,626 square feet to 19,823 square feet

n Middle school, from 18,862 square feet to 24,742 square feet

n High school, from 20,774 square feet to 28,744 square feet

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