COVID RELIEF FUNDING EXPLAINED:

Rapides Parish received Covid Relief funding. Here is an explanation of those funds and how they can and will be utilized:

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) is restricted in how it can be spent. ESSER funds are focused on addressing improving academic outcomes and moving schools forward post-pandemic.

District 62 is in need of facility maintenance that falls out of the realm of what ESSER funds allow. Whenever possible, RPSB plans to braid funds from this relief package with increased millages resulting from the bond proposition.

Rapides Parish was given $90,508,401.00 in Covid Relief Funding. These funds have 15 allowable uses for spending. The only facility-based allowable is to address indoor air quality. Specifically,

• “School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce the risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs.”

• “Inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the

indoor air quality in school facilities.”

These funds have been used to: facilitate professional development sessions, expand summer programming, purchase curriculum, upgrade technology, and provide social-emotional learning initiatives.

Anything facility-related must be pre-approved.

School systems get no state or federal money in K-12 to address infrastructure. It remains a local responsibility.

For more information, and to explore individual school district funding, visit the Louisiana Department of Education Federal Relief Funding Dashboard at: https://louisianabelieves.com/resources/pandemic-relief-guidance-and-resources