Ascension Parish School Board Grants Management & Program Management

Following record inundation in August 2016, which caused severe flooding of school facilities, and additional impacts from Hurricane Ida in August 2021 and Hurricane Francine in 2024, the Ascension Parish School Board (APSB) enlisted our team to develop and implement a recovery plan to return schools to their pre-disaster condition.

CSRS, a Westwood company is providing assistance and support for grants management, administration, and project management activities required by federal and state programs during disaster declarations. The scope of work includes overall program management, design phase management, construction management, field inspection services, and project controls.

Our team also holds full responsibility for grant administration tasks, compliance, and closeout. Acting as APSB’s representatives, team members communicate with federal and state agencies, collaborate with school district departments, manage document controls, oversee project worksheets (PWs) and grant applications, and resolve eligibility issues. Our grants management experts ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations to secure maximum funding for facility recovery and closeout.

During the 2016 Flood, our team went above and beyond federal guidance to secure additional reimbursements. Initially, reimbursement for items like floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and metal door frames was denied under the assumption they could withstand flood conditions. Our team provided compelling evidence through site visits, documenting how floor tiles were delaminating, ceiling tiles were molding, and door frames were rusting from within. This led to a policy change that benefited APSB and other sub-applicants during the disaster recovery process.

Additionally, we worked with local and Congressional delegates to eliminate NFIP reductions, increasing reimbursement by over 10% of the total program value.Following record inundation in August 2016, which caused severe flooding of school facilities, and additional impacts from Hurricane Ida in August 2021 and Hurricane Francine in 2024, the Ascension Parish School Board (APSB) enlisted CSRS, a Westwood company to develop and implement a recovery plan to return schools to their pre-disaster condition.