The picture of the new Jasper-Troupsburg High School remains unclear after remnants from the second tropical storm in three years battered the school building and grounds in Jasper earlier this month.
District officials said damages from Tropical Storm Debby Aug. 9 are "similar to what Jasper-Troupsburg experienced" in August 2021, when the high school was inundated with nearly four feet of water, mud and debris from Tropical Storm Fred.
Those damages were so severe the high school was closed and Jasper-Troupsburg high school students, faculty and staff relocated to a school building in Greenwood .
The high school and district offices remain at the former Greenwood school building while the situation is worked out in Jasper.
In August 2022, federal officials announced over $5.6 million in funding to help Jasper-Troupsburg recover from the 2021 storm.
The plan, according to district social media posts, calls for an onsite rebuild, with demolition and reconstruction of a large portion of Jasper-Troupsburg High School and renovations to another section of the building.
J-T asking FEMA to consider relocating new high school
In light of the recent storm and new damages, Jasper-Troupsburg asked FEMA to reconsider the previous determination of reconstruction at the current location and issue a "directed relocation" of the school.
That process begins with a written request to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, which the district said it has filed.
The district said on its Facebook page the recent storm saw floodwater enter the bottom floor of a press box and the soccer dugouts. Jasper-Troupsburg said it also lost a truck and plow attachment in the flash flood.
After more flooding, Jasper-Troupsburg asks for new mitigation steps
An Aug. 12 meeting with FEMA and DEHES had been scheduled to review the final flood proofing plan and scope of work for restoring the Jasper building. Instead, it led to the decision to write a request for an amendment to the already obligated FEMA and state funds for repair of the baseball and softball fields.
Specifically, the request will ask for mitigation funding to protect the fields from a future storm.
Jasper-Troupsburg acknowledged the request will delay field resurfacing that had been scheduled to take place at the sports complex this month.
Meanwhile, the Jasper-Troupsburg Board of Education announced a special meeting for 6 p.m., Aug. 21 in the elementary school in Troupsburg.
Jasper-Troupsburg Superintendent LeeAnne Jordan, who announced in July she was leaving the school district, did not return a phone call or email seeking comment.
More: 'People are overwhelmed': Army of volunteers push flood cleanup forward in Canisteo
Jordan, who has been with the district for eight years while serving as elementary school principal and superintendent, did not announce a departure date.
Jasper-Troupsburg High School stays in Greenwood for now
For the foreseeable future, Jasper-Troupsburg high school will remain in Greenwood. That's fine with Canisteo-Greenwood Superintendent Thomas Crooks.
"From the very beginning, three years ago, we assured the J-T district that they could use the Greenwood building for as long as necessary," Crook said. "We remain more than happy and willing to continue supporting the J-T community during these challenging times. They will always have a friend in C-G."
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: What's in the cards for Jasper-Troupsburg High School after another storm batters district
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