St. Elizabeth R-4 Schools Awarded Grants For FEMA Safe Room – Hoping For Yes Vote On April Ballot Tax Levy

The St. Elizabeth R-4 school district is on the receiving end of federal grant money.

According to the Superintendent Doug Kempker, the State Emergency Management Agency or SEMA approved an application for a sub-grant covering $750,000 of non-federal match funds, which combined with the $2,250,000 of federal funds, will allow for the construction of a FEMA Safe Room.

In addition to the grant money, the district is also asking voters to approve a $0.99 cent tax levy in the April 2^nd election, which if approved, would combine with the federal funds to finish the project.

Should the measure pass, it would allow the district to build a regulation-size gymnasium that doubles as a FEMA safe room, and it will be the first major project since 1999, when the school added a new cafeteria and stage into the existing gym built in 1968.