The Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education has approved a tentative plan for how they will use the latest batch of COVID-relief money. To date, over $3.25 million has been allocated to the district from federal and state sources. The most recent was $1.96 million from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund through the American Rescue Plan. At least 20 percent must be spent on learning loss recovery for students, but districts have some leeway on how the rest can be used. Superintendent, Dr. Casey Berlau, says they collected input from over 600 staff, students and stakeholders to determine what the community views as the most important issues.
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The clear indications from the survey falls in line with what the board had already identified as priorities. The funds must be used by the end of 2024, but the $800,000 still remaining from the second round of ESSER must be used before ESSER III can be tapped. Several board members suggested using the more than $2 million to hire a dedicated social worker for the district or bring on a full-time school resource officer. Berlau says those are acceptable uses for the funds, but he cautions against adding long-term expenses that will be paid for through revenues with a known sunset.
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Plans must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education no later than Aug. 23. However, Berlau notes they only need a rough outline of how the money will be used rather than a line-by-line breakdown.
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The board voted unanimously to use at least $380,000 of the ESSER III funding on learning loss recovery with the remaining amount designated for mental health and technology purposes. Other qualifying expenses that are approved by the board can also 0be submitted later for reimbursement.