The resource team suggests consideration of a
FEMA sent three different teams to investigate but
school design competition as a possible strategy
no contractors to actually do the work.
for providing a good design in a short time frame. Another option is a charrette to consider economic
Lamar County is among the fastest-growing dis-
development and design issues. The charrette
tricts and has four new elementary schools. Before
process brings a team of design and related pro-
the storm, there had been a “Band-Aid building
fessionals on site to work with the community in
program” that added classroom space in new
creating plans and drawings that reflect a vision
wings of old buildings. This program has accentu-
for future development.
ated building code problems. Although new construction must be built to code, older buildings
MAJOR ISSUES: UPPER COUNTIES
with no smoke or fire alarms persist in an unim-
These counties have rural school systems, requir-
proved condition.
ing extensive travel between facilities. There was no help for 72 hours after the hurricane struck.
A ripple effect is now occurring in the cost of con-
There was no safe place for evacuees; many
struction. These school districts are in a constant
schools had to be used as shelters.
planning mode, attempting to deal with future growth. Problems are exacerbated by the increase in con-
Mississippi’s public education program is charac-
struction costs resulting from the scarcity of building
terized by high achievement relative to many
materials, another byproduct of the hurricane.
other states. Although the upper counties were not affected by the hurricane in the same way as the
Stone County was the only county that had an
lower counties, a range of community issues
adequate insurance experience. The county is
were exacerbated by the event. In Hattiesburg,
considered to be 90 percent whole, not as a result
for instance, there was $2.5 million in damage,
of FEMA assistance, but rather thanks to Liberty
primarily to the local timber industry. Some school
Mutual Insurance Company. The county’s good
districts financed operations and maintenance
fortune is a result of its relationship with the
needs by selling timber from school-owned land.
insurance company. Stone County is the only
There is not enough of a revenue stream to build
district in southern Mississippi that has had a
new schools, but the money received from land
positive outcome, in terms of receiving the funds
leased for timber production did help cover some
necessary to address its building problems.
expenses. That income has now been lost. ACCOMMODATING THE STUDENT Many of the school buildings in these counties
POPULATION
have flat roofs, and the mechanical systems on the
The growth issues in these counties relate to an
roofs are gone. So, while the schools may be in
anticipated natural increase in population as well
relatively decent condition, a significant amount
as the need to accommodate displaced students
of damage did occur. For instance, Forrest County
from the lower counties and from the New Orleans
suffered an estimated $1.8 million in damage.
area. With the anticipated growth and development, demand for public services will also increase. To
Mississippi Regional School Design Institute
17