Miller gets federal funding for new FEMA shelter

After months of waiting, the Miller School District has finally received notification that they have been approved to receive federal funding to construct a FEMA shelter at Miller High School.
In April of 2018, residents of Miller approved a $1,250,000 no tax increase bond issue with an overwhelming 71.79 percent approval rate. Before the election, the district had applied for a grant for federal funds to build a FEMA shelter. The district was later notified that it had not been selected to receive such funds.
In August of 2018, the district was notified that it was once again in the running to receive federal funding to make the soon-to-be-built band/choir room a community safe room. On Tuesday, March 5, Miller school employees met with government officials in Jefferson City and received official paperwork notifying the district that it will be reimbursed for a FEMA shelter in the amount of approximately $924,750. This is an increase of $154,125 more than the originally expected amount of $770,625.
The next step is to finalize building plans with architects. Once finalized, they will be sent to Jefferson City for approval. Once approved, plans can be taken to bid.
If everything goes as planned, the district hopes to begin construction on the band/choir room that will serve as a FEMA shelter in the fall of 2019. In addition, the district plans to construct an auxiliary gym at the high school and upgrade the existing cafeteria. The school hopes to have everything done by the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.