Helene Resources for WNC

 

Golf Tournament for WNC Charter Schools

NCACPS has shifted the focus of our annual golf tournament to raise funds for WNC charter schools impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can donate to support WNC Charter schools here.  

 

Adopt a WNC Charter School

The NC Coalition for Charter Schools is joining the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools in its Adopt a WNC School Initiative. There are 20 charter schools in WNC and they all need our support!

We are looking for schools and organizations to adopt our WNC Charter Schools and collect the items needed. Adopters will be paired with a WNC School and will be given a list of items the school has requested. Adopters will be responsible for getting their donated items to their adopted schools, but we can help coordinate.  Are you interested in adopting a school?  Please complete the interest form.

 

Important First Steps for Disaster Relief

The most immediate consideration for charter schools right now is FEMA’s Public Assistance program.  This will reimburse schools for pretty much any response or recovery cost, including temporary facilities, emergency clean up, and permanent reconstruction, less insurance.  This can include contractor costs and staff overtime.

 In order to utilize FEMA's Public Assistance program, schools need to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) within 30 days of the disaster declaration, which happened on September 28.  This is a very strict deadline.  The NC Division of Emergency Management will start pushing messaging soon on https://www.ncdps.gov/public-assistance.  Schools can start the application process at grantee.fema.gov.  Schools will need to submit documentation showing they are a nonprofit organization and that they are an active charter school.  If there is any chance your school will need assistance, you should submit an RPA as soon as possible.

Schools should take pictures of every surface of their facility before moving anything.   It is important to take pictures of every room from top to bottom.  Do wide shots and close in zooms. Every picture will be insurance against a number of headaches that can pop up two years from now.

 It is also vital for schools to keep copious records of all donated time and materials.  You should keep records of all volunteer labor with sign in sheets that capture who helped out, what they did, and how long they worked.  All donated equipment or materials should be recorded as well. Donated goods and services can be used to satisfy the 10-25% non-federal cost share, which could save your school thousands down the road.