Pinellas schools aim to recoup millions spent on hurricanes

Tampa Bay Times | By Jeffrey S. Solochek | February 18, 2025

With hurricanes Helene and Milton in the rearview mirror, finance officials have tallied how much the storms cost the Pinellas County school district.

All told, the expenses totaled more than $45 million, with the biggest amount — $34.7 million — due to physical destruction to buildings. Helene flooded out two schools closest to the Gulf, while Milton ripped off roofs and blew in windows.

Much of the money will be reimbursed, superintendent Kevin Hendrick said Tuesday. District officials expect the county government to repay $3.8 million in shelter and related expenses by June, for instance.

But getting the bulk of the funding back could take up to four years. FEMA is not projected to cover building losses until the 2027-29 budget cycle.

Beyond that, Hendrick told the school board during a Tuesday workshop, about $6.4 million of the amount might never come to the district. Items such as deductibles, added flood insurance requirements and depreciation on lost contents are not reimbursable, he explained.

With the money spent on unanticipated hurricane bills at Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8, Gulf Beaches Elementary and other schools, the district has delayed other projects that could have used the funds. Those include renovations at Seminole High, along with regular painting and roofing maintenance.

“We had to slow other projects to do this now,” Hendrick said.

Middle school students have returned to Madeira Beach Fundamental, with the elementary students slated to head back after spring break. Preparing Gulf Beaches for classes is expected to take through the summer.

Given the extent of the budget implications, district officials have asked state lawmakers to consider a helping hand as they consider hurricane relief measures in the upcoming legislative session. Hendrick said the state has provided financial assistance to other storm-plagued districts in the past.

Smashed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, the Lee County school district got a state advance of the amount it was expected to receive from FEMA with the agreement that the district would reimburse the state as the federal payments arrived.

Another possibility, Hendrick said, is for the state to give the district an allocation of the $6.4 million the district does not expect to see reimbursed. That would help make the district whole, he said, and also fill some of its budget holes.

Hendrick acknowledged that several other agencies, government entities and organizations suffered losses during the hurricanes, and Pinellas schools is but one seeking assistance. He said he had to ask, though, and has met with Senate Appropriations chairperson Ed Hooper, who represents part of Pinellas.

“If they’re going to provide some relief,” he said, “that’s our need.”