Input needed for OC Schools’ ESSER fund use

A public meeting was held June 28 in the Library at Obion County Central High School, for the presentation of the Obion County Schools’ plans for use of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
Following that meeting, surveys were provided, to those in attendance, to gain input on the district’s plan.
The same survey is available through the district website for the public, www.obioncountyschools.com, and a link to the survey will also be sent to staff and students through the district email.

On the school system’s website, under “Our District”, the ESSER Public Presentation is available for view, as is the Federal Relief Spending Plan, and the ESSER 3.0 Survey/Stakeholder Input.

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, enacted on March 11, 2021, provides states with money that will be used to safely return to in-person instruction, assist schools with curriculum and instructional needs, help improve facilities, and provide services for students that may be struggling due to the effects of the pandemic.

Public school systems want to gather feedback from those who live in the community and have children that attend schools.

School systems also want to share the plans that have been developed so that everyone is informed about how the ESSER funding is being used.

Currently, the Obion County School District ESSER Spending Plans include the LEA Re-Opening Grant, in the amount of $60,000, for 40 laptops, document cameras, graphing calculators and seven charging stations.

The Remote Technology Grant, in the amount of $235,545.15, is to be used for 806 laptops, and the ESSER 1.0 grant, in the amount of $609,721.19, is to be used for 1,616 laptops for students and 63 charging carts.

ESSER 2.0 grant, in the amount of $2,599,575.01, includes $975,516.63 for Instruction, for teachers, substitutes, curriculum such as Edmentum online and ELA and math materials, Technology, such as 76 student devices and 30 Promethean Boards; $227,034.21 for Instructional Supports, such as K-2 Instructional Coach, ESSER Grants Administrator and ESSER Fiscal Grants Manager; $22,516.55 for Summer School Administration, for Principal and Secretaries; $1,337,977.62 for Plant Operations, Custodians and HVAC Replacements and upgrades; and $36,530 for Food Service, including garbage pickup for Summer School, grease trap cleaning and equipment.

ESSER 3.0 Grant funding in the amount of $5,838,276.21, is planned to facilitate instruction, $2,919,528.80 for teachers, retention/signing bonuses, materials and supplies, software, technology/student devices.

Additionally, ESSER 3.0 funds will allow for student support in the amount of $416,335 for social worker and ELS teacher; Support Services, $506,549 for educational assistants, K-2 Instructional Coach, and federal grants administrator; Technology, in the amount of $123,206 for technology assistant; $53,034.11 for Summer School Administration, for principals and secretaries $117,529 for Fiscal Grants Manager/Bookkeeper; Buildings, $1,356,454.02 for Custodial cleaning and HVAC replacements and upgrades; Food Service in the amount of $40,242.34 for personnel and grease trap cleaning; and indirect costs, $305,397.94.