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In a recent announcement, Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett declared that the Joseph Sibilly Elementary School in St. Thomas will be receiving a substantial grant of over $32 million for extensive repairs and renovations.
This sum, which totals precisely $32,049,717.28, has been allocated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is directed towards the V.I. Department of Education.
The grant comes as a relief and recovery effort for the damages sustained by five buildings and the school grounds during the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Ms. Plaskett expressed her gratification, stating, "This award will pave the way for our community's journey towards achieving preparedness and resilience against such natural calamities, ensuring that we rebuild in line with 21st-century standards."
Ms. Plaskett also highlighted a unique provision that she played a role in securing via the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. This provision allows FEMA to undertake repairs and even replace infrastructure in the Virgin Islands with a resilient design, irrespective of their condition prior to the disasters. "This means we have the opportunity to restore our vital infrastructures, like schools, to the latest industry standards without being restricted by the pre-disaster conditions," she added.
While celebrating this milestone, the congresswoman acknowledged that the path to complete recovery is long and reiterated her commitment to the cause. "Though significant, this is just one step in our larger rebuilding process," she said. "I take immense pride in the progress in the Virgin Islands, and I remain committed to collaborating with the Office of Disaster Recovery and the Virgin Islands Department of Education, ensuring that every penny of this fund is put to its best use."
She added, "There is still more work to be done, but this project marks another important step in our rebuilding. I am proud of the work being done in the Virgin Islands and look forward to working with the Office of Disaster Recovery and the Virgin Islands Department of Education to ensure the funds are fully utilized."
