What are ESSER Funds?

by Ellsworth School District Superintendent Barry Cain

School districts around the state have receiving funds through the recent federal government stimulus programs._The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds target schools across the nation to address COVID-related costs we have already incurred or anticipate incurring._There are three rounds of these funds._ ESSER 1:_These funds have already been distributed and claimed by the Ellsworth Community School District._The district received $98,936 from ESSER 1 with a small portion of this going to St. Francis Elementary School. The majority of these funds were spent to provide for the additional health aides that were needed in the middle school and high school this year. This funding only covered a portion of our COVIDrelated costs for this school year.__ ESSER 2:_ESSER 2 funds became available in late April and are currently being budgeted at this time. The district is receiving $400,619. The district will receive additional ESSER 2 funds in the late summer/early fall after we submit our average daily attendance to the State of Wisconsin._We are one of 174 districts eligible for additional funds based on the attendance report which takes into account the amount of time students received in-person instruction versus virtual instruction. We are presently developing the listing of expenses to target that we have experienced this year along with additional anticipated expenses for next year._ ESSER 3: These funds have not yet been released to school districts. At this time, the district is estimated to receive $899,681 with additional funds still being defined by the legislature. _These funds may be claimed through September 2024. We are presently developing budget targets based on requirements. _ Districts have a great deal of flexibility to utilize these funds for COVID-related expenses. Targeting student learning loss is a major focus. Examples we are looking at are staffing to reduce class sizes in some areas, extended school day activities, summer school activities, additional academic interventions for students in need, etc._Other projected costs include mental health support, health aide costs, additional cleaning supplies, and building maintenance projects with building ventilation systems being a focus of the funds.__ A key thing to keep in mind is that these are temporary funds and are targeted solely for district expenses incurred due to COVID along with underlying concerns like student learning loss and ventilation in facilities. In our planning we are focused on providing the support for learning loss initiatives while also focusing on projects that do not create a funding cliff after these funds are exhausted. In other words, we are looking at funding staffing that is likely needed beyond the funds being available or projects that are long term investments for the district.__ The ESSER funds are certainly welcomed by districts around the state to help support our operations related COVID._More information will be coming in the upcoming months as we finalize the uses of these funds._