St. Helena Parish School District gets long-waited funds by FEMA, repairs will bring big impact

Ana Conejo
·2 min read

GREENSBURG, La (BRPROUD) — Since 2021, the St. Helena Parish School District has been picking up the pieces from damage of Hurricane Ida, but thanks to FEMA funding, the district will receive much needed repairs.

“I don’t have to worry about ceiling tiles falling in my office. We don’t have to worry about, you know, water dripping on all of our material supplies, equipment in our storage room. The roof needed to be repaired a long time ago,” said Superintendent of St. Helena Parish School District Dr. Kelli Joseph.

This week, damage repairs have started and will make a big difference, said Supervisor of Facilities and Maintenance at St. Helena Parish School District, Edward Galmon.

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“We’re talking about a half million dollars in damage that we sustain,” Galmon said. “It is quite a change to not be concerned that every time there’s a hard rain, I’m trying to get up here and see what effect it had.”

Galmon said funds will replace roofing at the St. Helena Central Office and flooring at the basketball court of the St. Helena College and Career Academy, which he said has been a safety hazard.

“Under part of the wood was deteriorating,” Galmon said while showing videos of the damage. “During a basketball game or whatever, you see a child trip at this point, you know, I know why.”

Galmon said the basketball court has noticeable patches of fixings but is excited to receive new flooring for the students, especially with sporting events being big on areas, such as St. Helena Parish.

Joseph said the repairs will be done by the end of the summer and is excited to show students school leaders are doing everything they can to improve their lives.

“The environment matters. What they see everyday matter,” Joseph said. “I want our kids to know that the adults in their lives care about them and love them. And so, what we do every day for them is all a part of them being successful.”

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She also gives thanks to Galmon and his team for the hard work throughout the years, as they temporarily fixed items due to the lack of funding for the massive repairs needed.

“I’m very proud of the work that Mr. Goldman in the maintenance department has done. You know, up till now, it has been a long, arduous task. You know, these last three years and trying to get everything put together right,” Joseph said.

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