Budget amended to repair Jones campus damaged by Ike
San Jacinto News- Times - October 2009

COLDSPRING -- Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District (COCISD) trustees, meeting in regular session, amended the district budget to pay for repairs to Jones campus damaged in 2008 by Hurricane Ike. COCISD Business Manager Adam Jenke reported current estimates on repairs and refurbishing are now at $998,000. In July, trustees approved a $1,041,936 reconstruction budget. The recent amendment is less than the original budgeted amount because the District incurred some expenses in the previous fi scal year. Furthermore, Jenke reported that COCISD’s fi nal insurance settlement is $50,000 more than originally expected for a payout of $704,759. COLDSPRING – Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s right-of-way department is being swamped with requests from members to remove dead trees. Damage from Hurricane Ike last September, followed by an unfavorably hot and dry sum- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will cover the District’s $100,000 deductible, Jenke added, and COCISD will ultimately incur about $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. “Reconstruction is now underway,” Jenke said, “with completion expected in early spring.” Repairs to the former high school include new roofi ng, restoration construction, and upgrades in accessibility and code compliance. In other business, trustees directed Superintendent LaTonya Goffney to gather information regarding a proposed inter-local cooperation agreement request by the San Jacinto County Emergency Services District. ESD is requesting emergencyonly use of an undeveloped road on COCISD property. The road begins at the community ballpark, off Highway 150, and ends behind Coldspring- Oakhurst High School. ESD representative Lawrence Godfrey said ESD is willing to put $2,000 toward construction and/or maintenance of the road. He added that ESD plans to seek county participation in the project as well. Trustees also approved purchase of 15 new lap top computers for the COHS Career and Technology Program. Cost of the computers is $12,776.