One Steuben County school district has cleared a major hurdle in its effort to rebuild its junior-senior high school, with federal officials officially approving funding for a replacement facility nearly five years after Tropical Storm Fred devastated the campus.
Jasper-Troupsburg School District officials announced on Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated funding for the project, marking a significant step forward in the recovery and rebuilding process.
The district’s secondary school suffered extensive damage during Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, forcing students and staff to adapt as district leaders worked through the lengthy federal recovery process.
School officials credited several partners for helping move the project forward, including U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Nick Langworthy, whose offices advocated on behalf of the district throughout the process.
The district also thanked staff from FEMA and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for their assistance in navigating the funding and recovery process.
Board of Education President Jodi VanGorden called the funding approval a milestone years in the making.
“This is a day that many in our community have been waiting for,” VanGorden said. “The obligation of this project represents years of perseverance by our students, staff, families, and community members. While there is still important work ahead, this milestone brings us one step closer to providing our students and staff with a permanent home and a facility that will serve generations of Wildcats to come.”
District officials said the funding approval is a critical step, but several phases of the project still remain. Those include continued design work, state-level approvals, and ultimately a public vote before construction can move forward.
School leaders emphasized that community involvement and transparency will continue to be key components of the process as plans for the new school advance.
