Belmont Community School District
ESSER III LEA Plan
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was passed in March 2021. The ARP act authorized the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) fund grant program. ESSER III supplements ESSER I created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020, and ESSER II created by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRSSA) Act passed in December 2020. ESSER III provides additional non-recurring funding to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Belmont Community School District is expected to receive $689,118 in ESSER III funding. Funds may be used to support the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and must be utilized between March 2020 and September 30, 2024. Funds are intended to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools as well as address the pandemic’s impact on WRPS students.
School districts and charter schools must use a minimum of 20% to implement Evidence-Based Intervention Strategies (EBIS) to address lost learning opportunities. For Belmont Community Schools, this 20% equates to $137,824. Districts must ensure that interventions respond to students’ social, emotional, and academic needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups.
Underrepresented subgroups specifically mentioned in United States Department of Education guidance as likely to have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 include: each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care.
The use of ESSER III Funds can fall into a variety of categories which could include: Preparedness and Response, Addressing Long-term School Closure, Outreach and Services for Special Populations, Mental Health Services and Supports, and Education Technology. This is not an exhaustive list but gives some insight into areas where dollars can be spent.
While there are specific requirements to be met in order to receive ESSER III funding, this grant provides a unique opportunity for school districts to capitalize on implementing activities that assess and address lost learning opportunities caused by the pandemic and support student mental and emotional health and well being. The ESSER III plan being recommended specifically allocates $309,957 toward EBIS with the remaining $379,161 earmarked to address other needs brought on by the pandemic. The plan is divided into different categories, and each category includes a narrative explaining the positive impact this funding will have to support student success.
The ESSER III LEA Plan will use ESSER III application and budget information to describe the following:
- How funds will be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with the most recent CDC guidelines on reopening schools, in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in person learning.
Belmont Community Schools will use funds to pay for the following in this area:
$21,614 for Chromebooks used when virtual learning took place (approved 2021)
$25,100 for Chromebooks (2023)
$2827 for wireless access which allows teaching outdoors when possible (approved 2021)
$4500 for door openers for hallway doors to prevent touching of door handles repeatedly (May 2022)
- How the LEA will use at least 20% to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, as defined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (Note: In addition to interventions provided during the regular school day/school year, this may also include summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive after school programs, or extended school year programs.)
Belmont Community Schools will use funds to pay for the following in this area:
$112,791 to pay for salary and benefits for a K-12 (ELL) English Language Learner Teacher between 2021-2024 School Years
$125,000 to purchase K-12 ELA Curriculum (not all approved yet)
$22,918.20 to purchase Science Curriculum (June 2022)
$14,000 to purchase Business/Computer Curriculum (approved May 2022)
- How the LEA will spend its remaining ESSER III funds, consistent with allowed activities defined in the ARP Act
Belmont Community Schools will use funds to pay for the following in this area:
$88,495 to purchase a new School Bus (approved 2021)
$36,800 to purchase a School Van (approved 2023)
$98,941 to purchase 22 Clear touch Panels in classrooms (approved 2021 & 2022)
$72,954 to purchase Skyward Software (approved 2021)
$33,000 to purchase Hudl Camera System for three years (approved for FY21,22,23)
$11,517.44 to purchase a new server (approved June 2022)
$5841 to purchase 9 iMac Computers (approved August 2022)
$12,800 to purchase Dell Desktop Computers
Stakeholder Input: Stakeholder input was solicited at the December 20, 2021 School Board meeting.
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