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WARREN -- Area school districts will be among those across the country to receive additional CARES Act funding to further address the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on education.
The funding is part of an additional $54.3 billion set aside for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, referred to as the ESSER Fund. The money is part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) signed into law Dec. 27, 2020.
The Warren City School District, the largest in Trumbull County, is projected to receive $13.71 million through this second round of ESSER funding. The district received approximately $3.5 million in federal CARES Act funds in the first ESSER round issued last year.
School districts received communication from the Ohio Department of Education on Jan. 22 of the proposed ESSER II allocation. The money is expected to become available by the end of this month.
"The funding will allow the district to provide additional tech support for students and families, identify and create plans to close learning gaps through assessing and identifying students' academic and non-academic needs, and increase family engagement in our academic programs," Warren Schools Superintendent Steve Chiaro said.
Professional development will be designed and provided for staff and the district plans to explore options for a reduction of class size, he continued.
The disbursement amounts are based on the Title I funds a district receives. Title I provides federal funding to schools based upon percentages of low-income students. Funds are used to support at-risk students.
Regina Teutsch, Warren's executive director of curriculum and instruction, said the new allocation "further helps us move forward in our continuing efforts to support the whole child, academically, physically and social-emotionally while also working to engage entire families."
Warren associate Superintendent Wendy Hartzell explained the additional funding will help propel 21st century learning and advance technology plans for students in Warren. Upgrades will be made at each school, as needed, to support increasing demands on technology; review, improve and monitor airflow in all buildings while continuing to provide proper personal protective equipment.
A portion of the funding will go toward providing additional targeted mental health intervention to assist students academically and professional development for staff. Additionally, the district plans to increase its teaching staff to bring about the reduction of class sizes.
LIBERTY
Liberty Schools are expected to receive $1,419,668. Superintendent Andrew J. Tommelleo is hoping to use some of the money to work on the district's buildings, its heating and air conditioning systems, as well as staffing needs.
The district used the funds received last year to address staff, as well as health and safety needs.
"We are in the planning stage of how we will spend these funds," Tommelleo said. "Looking down the road, we have staffing and maintenance concerns, so we are trying to determine what our priorities are."
Students have been back into Liberty schools buildings four days a week.
"We purchased some technology with ESSER I funds, but we also will likely have to use some of this new money to buy additional Chromebooks and hotspots," he said.
Obtaining these funds are especially important to Liberty schools because a levy the district had hoped to pass last year was not renewed.
"This really is a shot in the arm," Tommelleo said. "It is providing us some dollars to make sure we can make some needed repairs."
NILES, BROOKFIELD
Niles, projected to receive close to $3.5 million, likely will use the funding for additional PPE supplies, sanitization equipment and supplies, educational equipment for students/families and teachers, maintain current staff and to help subsidize the cafeteria fund due to shortfalls in revenue, according to Rhonda Baldwin-Amorganos, treasurer.
Niles Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen said her district is looking also to use the funds to expand the summer school program at the K-5 level to help close the learning gap.
Brookfield Superintendent Toby Gibson said his district plans to use its expected $1.067 million to address academic interventions for students and explore potential summer programs or resources to address learning loss.
Gibson said the district is also looking into ways to improve its remote learning/teaching capabilities, social services to help families that have been struggling through the pandemic. The district will also address the continuing need for PPE, disinfecting products and equipment.
Staff writer Raymond L. Smith and Virginia Shank of the Trumbull County ESC contributed to this report.
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Relief by the numbers
Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief federal dollars:
Bloomfield-Mespo $1,378,073
Bristol $635,102
Brookfield $1,066,930
Champion $682,904
Girard $1,709,297
Howland $1,544,072
Hubbard $1,145,633
Joseph Badger $630,266
LaBrae $1,220,003
Lakeview $1,061,031
Liberty $1,419,668
Lordstown $355,902
Maplewood $487,904
Mathews $572,875
Mcdonald $408,956
Newton Falls $963,461
Niles $3,493,203
Southington $293,024
Warren $13,709,857
Weathersfield $582,032
Source: Ohio Department of Education