St. John The Baptist Parish Needs $8 Million For School Repairs

LAPLACE, La. (AP) — Leaders of the St. John the Baptist Parish school system are asking the state for $8 million to help finance repairs to schools damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

While high-level talks are going on, the request for aid, including a one-time legislative appropriation, faces an uncertain future amid state budget problems.

State aid for public schools has been generally frozen for four consecutive years.

Isaac struck southeast Louisianaon Aug. 29.

Repairs to the school district total $38.1 million. Flood insurance took care of $6 million, leaving $32.1 million unpaid.

The Advocate reports FEMA is expected to take care of 75 percent, or $24.1 million.

That means the district has to come up with $8 million, mostly for repairs to East St. John High School and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.

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