Budgeting for COVID-19
COVID-19 impacted budgets nationally, including here at Tahoma. With unexpected spending, and additional government assistance, came questions about how schools like ours incorporated those funds into their budget.
What are ESSER funds and how are they used?
"Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). Signed into law on March 27, 2020, the Department awarded these grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation.
Following the first ESSER allotment in March 2020, The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and provided an additional $54.3 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund).
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law, which included $122 billion for the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund."
(Per Office of Elementary and Secondary Education)
SEAs across the country were allotted specific amounts of ESSER funds that can be made available for school districts. Below is how much money Tahoma received in ESSER funds through Aug. 2023.
COVID-19 expenditures include staffing, such as additional nurses and support staff, supplies and materials for cleaning and disinfecting, and operationalizing a COVID-19 testing site for students, staff and families. Many of the costs incurred were needed to meet the K-12 COVID-19 requirements as directed by federal, state and local health jurisdictions.
This page will be updated periodically to reflect the latest information (last updated February 2024). If you have additional budget questions, please send us an email at TSDMessages@TahomaSD.US