ESSER FUNDS (Emergency Relief Funds)
USD 234 went to Spring Break in March 2020 assuming everyone would recharge and be back in a week. None of us knew that we were getting ready to be faced with one of the biggest challenges our school district had ever experienced. The following federal funding was put in place to assist schools during the pandemic.
ESSER I: $453,830 ($11,090 went to Private Schools) & $29,612 (Special Education)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020 and included Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds for K-12 schools. These ESSER grants were to provide school districts with emergency relief funds to address the impact COVID-19 had on elementary and secondary schools.
ESSER II: $1,815,622
On December 27, 2020, the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSA Act), was signed into law and provided additional funds for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund).
The purpose of the additional funding is to provide direct money to LEAs to assist in safely reopening schools, measuring and effectively addressing significant learning loss, and taking other actions to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on educators, students, and families. Allowable uses include all possible expenditures under ESSER I.
A link to USD 234's plan can be found here: USD 234 ESSER II
ESSER III: $4,080,503
On March 11, 2021 the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law. The ARP ESSER III funding from the ARP Act provides support for K-12 schools to help safely open and sustain the safe operations of schools and address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's students. The ARP Act also allocates funds to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Although the ARP ESSER III uses of funds are similar to those for ESSER I and II, there are important distinctions between ARP ESSER III, ESSER II, and ESSER programs, including the period of funds availability, equitable services to non-public schools, maintenance of effort, and a report on efforts to measure and address learning loss.
A link to USD 234's plan can be found here: USD 234 ESSER III. Once the plan has been approved by the state this will be updated. Feedback regarding the plan can be given to Superintendent Destry Brown or Gina Shelton, Finance Director. Their offices are in the board office.
STAFF & COMMUNITY CONVERSATONS
Districts are also required to develop and seek public comment on plans for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services. This information must be made publicly available on the local educational agency's website no later than 30 days after receiving the allocation of funds.
If you have a group who would like to visit about ESSER funds, please contact Gina Shelton at 620-223-0800 and she will make arrangements.
Community Input - USD 234 sought input from stakeholders on how to use our allocated ESSER III funds. District and building leadership met with many different groups and in total had more than 20 different meetings to gain feedback and go through district initiatives.