Montgomery County’s three school districts will receive a combined estimated $7.7 million in additional federal funding to recover expenses from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indiana Department of Education announced Monday.
The money is part of the latest round of aid from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which was originally established through the CARES Act. A combined $3.3 million in estimated funds will be awarded to Southeast Fountain, Covington and Western Boone schools.
A portion of the funding must go toward addressing learning loss during the pandemic. Schools can also use the funds to reimburse technology upgrades, coronavirus mitigation measures and other pandemic-related expenses sustained over the next three years.
“It is a significant amount of money, but won’t be sustained beyond December 2024 so we want to make sure to plan and spend it wisely,” said Dr. Colleen Moran, superintendent of North Montgomery School Corp.
Schools plan to use the funding for summer school programs, updating and replacing e-learning technology and providing staff with training and stipends.
“K-12 education during a global pandemic has been challenging for everyone associated with schools … everyone has been forced to reevaluate and develop creative solutions over the past year,” South Montgomery Community Schools superintendent Dr. Shawn Greiner said.
Local districts will also boost mental health resources for students through the funds. At North Montgomery, a student learning coordinator will join the middle school and a second counselor will be added at the high school.
Each of North Montgomery’s elementary schools will receive a physical fitness coach.
Crawfordsville Community Schools superintendent Dr. Scott Bowling said the district would use its funding to recoup the costs of cleaning supplies, extra furniture and changing the HVAC system to increase air flow in buildings.
“These funds will help us prepare for any ongoing adjustments that might be needed to continue in-person instruction as we fully return to normal operations,” Bowling said.
Indiana public schools were allocated close to $1.8 billion in the latest round of ESSER funds, the state announced. Private schools will receive nearly $78 million from the fund later this spring.
