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FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — Communities in western Kentucky are still cleaning up after December’s deadly tornadoes.

Superintendents representing various affected school districts addressed a Senate Education Committee meeting Thursday as the state unveiled temporary housing for affected residents.

The General Assembly almost immediately approved relief money at the beginning of the session through HB 5/SB 5, but superintendents said they haven’t received those dollars yet. They explained much of the decision-making in spending has been reactionary among schools.

“Everything we’ve done has been looking forward literally a week or two, you know trying to get through the next couple days, next couple weeks,” Dawson Springs ISD Superintendent Leonard Whalen said.

Whalen said he is not sure of the process to access the available $30 million allocated to schools, other than it will be a process that works through the Kentucky Department of Education.

While lawmakers have not drafted any additional aid legislation, committee members were open to hearing about additional needs schools faced in affected communities. However, much of those are still not clear.

“We don’t know what we need, I know that sounds a dumbfound statement, but right now I can tell you the immediate things but there’s going to be many needs going down the road that we don’t even foresee coming right now,” Mayfield ISD Superintendent Joe Henderson said.

Of the immediate concerns, Henderson explained recouping insurance losses is important, explaining they are experiencing at least a $700,000 gap in funding.

“I’ve got about five or six buses that are totaled that are over 10-years-old, insurance pays you $10,000 for them, you can’t go buy buses on a used car lot, you’ve got to order new ones and they are $95,000 approximately a piece,” Henderson said.

Another concern shared was over per-pupil or “SEEK” funding after several school districts’ attendance dropped after the storm. Henderson asked lawmakers to alter the formula for the next five years to help offset losses.

“I know that’s a big ask and I know you guys, your budget is only two years and you can only do so much from that perspective, but our town will not be back to where it is before the tornado in five years,” Henderson said.

Rep. Richard Heath, who co-sponsored HB 5, asked fellow lawmakers that through whatever action they consider to offer more aid, they do so with flexibility and long-term use in mind.

“I’d like to see a process put in place so our education folks and non-education folks as they have needs the money has been earmarked,” Rep. Heath said.

Some residents are only just now moving into temporary housing. Coinciding with the committee meeting, Gov. Andy Beshear showcased one of 200 medium-term housing units purchased by the state directed to residents not eligible for FEMA Direct Housing or shelter through another agency.

“They’ve been in hotels, they’ve been in lodges in our state parks, this is going to get them into something larger, a little more room, a lot more privacy,” Beshear said.

All 200 trailers were purchased new. Beshear said the state plans on putting them back on the market once the storm victims being sheltered move into a more permanent home.