Hurricane damages Pinellas school for neurodiverse students

Hurricane Milton’s recent assault on Florida’s Gulf Coast has left a trail of destruction, including significant damage to the Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT) school in Pinellas County. 

The not-for-profit institution, which serves nearly 200 children and young adults with neurodiversity, suffered extensive damage that has forced its temporary closure. LiFT, which only opened its doors in August 2023 after a $16 million renovation of a former Suncoast YMCA building, was caught off guard by the storm’s ferocity. 

“We weren’t really expecting a ton of damage because we’d done so well through Helene. We just didn’t really have an idea of what was coming,” said Matt Spence, Executive Director of LiFT. “Our gym roof basically peeled back from the north wall, and it looks like it did so pretty early in the storm, because there was water throughout the facility.”

The state-of-the-art building at 1005 South Highland Ave. in Clearwater encompasses 60,000 square feet and sits on 7.2 acres.

“They’re tearing out the basketball court today,” said Matt Spence, Executive Director of LiFT. “There was just no other option. There was a couple of inches of water sitting on top of the wood, and we had almost a foot-high buckling.”

The damage was extensive, with approximately 65-70% of the walls requiring drywall removal. Spence said most of the classrooms were OK, but five were significantly impacted, along with common spaces, hallways, the health clinic and the technology lab.

“[Cost-wise], we don’t have any of the real numbers yet, but it’s clearly going to be seven figures, and probably north of $2 million I would guess,” said Spence. Perhaps the most devastating loss for the school’s unique student population was the damage to the sensory room. “Having the ability to step out and recenter themselves and calm down is really critical. It took a couple of inches of water, and we lost all the manipulatives in there and some of the other things that we use to help our students get back on track.”

The disruption caused by the hurricane and subsequent school closure presents unique challenges for LiFT’s students and their families. Unlike neurotypical teenagers who might be able to stay home alone, many of LiFT’s students require some type of supervision, adding an additional complication to family dynamics. For neurodiverse students, routine and familiarity are crucial elements of their educational experience.

“Our students thrive when they have a consistent environment, and the sudden change has been difficult,” Spence explained. “It’s really central to the process of working with students with neurodiversity that they have a routine they’re familiar with, an environment that they’re comfortable in, and that all of the sensory challenges – smell, sight, sound – are really controlled, just to minimize the things that will pull them off track or might take them away from focusing on academics and learning.”

Despite the setbacks, the LiFT community has rallied together in the face of adversity. The school acted swiftly to begin mitigation efforts, bringing in a damage mitigation team by Friday following the storm. With over 40 dehumidifiers deployed throughout the building, the team worked tirelessly to remove water and damaged materials. Spence also noted that while the team of teachers, aides and staff have felt stressed, they’re focused on their mission and ready to get back in the classroom.

While some of the whiteboards, decorations and technology escaped Hurricane Milton unscathed, many of the rooms inside LiFT’s 60,000-square-foot campus were flooded, requiring the drywall and flooring to be ripped out and replaced.

However, the road to recovery comes with a hefty price tag. As a nonprofit organization, LiFT faces significant financial hurdles, including a $750,000 insurance deductible. Adding to the financial strain, two of LiFT’s fall fundraisers had to be canceled due to the hurricane, further impacting the school’s resources.

“When you have a building of this size and scope, there is not really a way to completely mitigate your risk,” Spence added. “We’ve taken hits from both directions, unfortunately.”

Despite the challenges, LiFT is determined to reopen its doors to students Monday, Oct. 21. As the school works towards recovery, they are calling on the community for support. Those wishing to help can visit the LiFT website to make a tax-deductible donation at liftfl.org.

.

.