FEMA, Insurance to Cover Sandy Costs for KLSD

Nearly all of the Hurricane Sandy-related expenses—building checks, cleanup, overtime, preparations and repairs—Katonah-Lewisboro Schools (KLSD) faced will be covered through FEMA funds and insurance, officials say.

The district announced the news in a press release Tuesday, stating that the combined reimbursement monies total $134,471. Of that, $63,926 will be provided through a FEMA E-grant, according to an estimate.

Business Administrator Lee Lew, Director of School Facilities Tom Psomas and Maintenance Foreperson Frank Raposiero were credited with helping to secure the FEMA funding, according to KLSD. They helped provide "detailed information documenting personnel hours, use of district-owned equipment, purchasing policies, invoices, calculations of wages and more."

FEMA representatives took tours and examined the damage.

"Although the New York State Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR), the district’s insurance provider, covered approximately $70,000 of the damages sustained during the storm, the remaining uncovered expenses needed to be recovered through application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)," the statement reads.

Some of the expenses were considered indirect, meaning they relate to administrative time, and others direct. The latter is covered by insurance.  

"We are constantly looking for efficiencies and ways to mitigate costs," Michael Jumper, assistant superintendent for business, said. "In today's tax cap environment, we are pleased that we have not incurred losses due to the hurricane..."