Officials say Hurricane Isaac caused no catastrophic damage to St. James Parish public schools, but the district needs to spend $500,000 to $750,000 for storm repairs.
Jim Mitchell, administrative director of business services for the district, told school board members Wednesday the Federal Emergency Management Agency would reimburse the district for at least 75 percent of eligible costs because the parish has been declared a disaster zone.
The Advocate reports the storm's only significant damage took place at Gramercy and 6th Ward elementary schools, where the roof caps on kitchen vent hoods were blown off the schools' new roofing systems, allowing water into the schools' kitchens.
Mitchell says several inches of water also got into the Lutcher High School auditorium, ruining the carpet, which will need to be replaced.