NEWS RELEASE FROM USD 247:

For months USD 247 has been waiting to hear if a grant would be approved by FEMA to build a safe room at the Southeast Elementary School in Weir. On Wednesday morning the district received confirmation from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management that the grant for $285,049 in federal funds has been approved.

“I announced it on the intercom I was so excited,” said Principal Tammie Hall.

USD 247 has had buildings receive structural damage from straight line wind storms twice in five years and according to data from the National Weather Service, is in the High Risk for 250 MPH tornado area.

Students and staff in the three story building built in 1918 currently take refuge in the restrooms of a non-rated partially underground basement. Students in the wing built in 1993 take refuge in the restrooms there.

Principal Hall discovered that a grant was possible from the Mitigation Division at FEMA and this past February a letter of intent was submitted.

The proposed 1,886 square foot facility will south of the south wing built in 1993. It will consist of 8 inch concrete walls and miles and miles of steel rebar to help protect those within it from a tornado and straight line windstorms.

The school district must provide an additional $95,016 in matching funds for the building, which will be a multi-use facility. Principal Hall said the building will be used as the school’s music room on a day to day basis.

No other details about the project are available at this time since it is in the beginning stages.

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