In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Education has released three grants for which local education agencies can apply. These grants, known as ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III, were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA); and the American Rescue Plan (ARP).
ARP: ESSER III
The Grant In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law. The ARP dedicated $122 billion to the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund. This grant is known as ESSER III. The intent and purpose of ESSER III is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus on students.
Allotment/Use of Funds Bushnell-Prairie City (BPC) School District 170 applied to receive its allocation of ESSER III funds based on feedback from stakeholder groups. BPC's total ESSER III allocation is $1,612,296. These funds are supplemental to the District's budget and will be used to address the impact COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools. BPC's use of ESSER III funds include addressing loss of learning for students and strategies that support students' social, emotional, and mental health through continuity, consistency, and access to support. $332,515 has been allocated to staffing and benefit costs related to summer programming, after school care, additional intervention/special education supports, and dedicated substitutes to address staff shortages during outbreaks. $23,856 has been allocated for the purchase of updated materials to support these teaching and learning initiatives. The Center for Disease Control asserts that healthy buildings play an important role in mitigating the spread of infectious disease. $1,255,925 has been allocated to improve the overall "health" of facilities, particularly at BPC High School. Targeted improvements will help custodial staff clean buildings and maintain safe surfaces by removing irreparable floor surfaces, installation of touch-free fixtures, and improving airflow through improved HVAC systems and windows. This work requires the removal of pre-existing asbestos.
Feedback Opportunities
Board of Education Meeting Presentation
Public comment time during any open meeting of the Board of Education
Final Approval at August Board of Education Meeting
Posting 2021 - 2022 In-Person Return to School Plans on District Website with Opportunity for Stakeholder Feedback
