Salisbury R-IV Receives FEMA Grant
District to Construct Safe Room/Multipurpose Facility
The Salisbury R-IV School District received official word on Friday, February 10, 2012, that it had received a grant from FEMA to construct a tornado safe room. The grant will be awarded in two phases. Phase I will provide $119,780 funding for the design of the facility. This grant amount will cover 75% of the estimated design costs of $159,706. The district will be required to provide a 25% match of $39,926. Once the design is approved by FEMA, Phase II will be awarded. Phase II funding will cover 75% of the cost of construction of the safe room. The total grant award from FEMA is expected to be approximately $1.275 million.
Nearly two and a half years ago the district began the process of determining the cost of renovating the old two story section of the high school building and the old auditorium versus the cost of replacing the facility. After considering both options, the district decided to replace the facilities. The initial design presented to the board included a new classroom wing and a multipurpose facility. Due to concerns over the total price of that project, the board approved constructing classrooms only and pursuing a FEMA grant to assist with the cost of the multipurpose facility.
The district has until July 2012 to present a design to FEMA for final approval. Once the final design is approved, Phase II funding will be released. The multipurpose facility will be designed for physical education classes, theater productions, music concerts, student assemblies, and athletic practices and competitions. In addition to this, the facility will serve as a community storm shelter/tornado safe room.
