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$78.3 million from the third round of federal emergency relief funds is slated to be spent on facilities at the campus of Virginia Randolph, which serves students for whom traditional school settings were not effective or possible.
The ESSER award is a federal grant under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in March. Congress set aside about $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act for the ESSER Fund.
Henrico County Public Schools posted its draft plan for how to spend the $78.3 million from its ESSER III funds, which are intended to address the impact of COVID-19 on elementary and secondary schools. The plan released Friday is a draft, and the district is asking for community input.
The majority of the fund — $60.5 million — is allocated for replacement of facilities at Virginia Randolph.
That sum would be used to increase community-based wraparound support services through a new community hub; improve special education, career and technical education and alternative education programs; and to expand specialized programming such as alternative education and adult education programs.
The next largest sum proposed — $4.5 million — would be used to continue for three years the funding of positions that were funded beginning in the 2021-2022 school year with past rounds of ESSER funding. These positions are 30 school counselors, 15 reading specialists and 13 library assistants.
Another $3.2 million is slated to extend the expanded Summer Academy offerings for summer 2022 and 2023. This proposal would allow the continuation of transportation for students at no cost.
The remaining $10.1 million is tentatively budgeted for six other items, which did not include dollar amounts on the draft plan.
The other items are renewing of instructional resources expanding remediation programming, providing electronic devices to all students, capital improvements to part of the former Highland Springs High School building, adding three vans to replace the community engagement bus, and expanding Henrico Virtual Academy.
Community members can give feedback on the plan at the Aug. 12 Henrico School Board meeting, which will be held at the New Bridge Learning Center Auditorium at 5915 Nine Mile Road. The public hearing begins at 5 p.m.
Or, community members can provide input virtually through an online feedback form by visiting www.henricoschools.us/budget-finance/.
The School Board is expected to vote on the proposal at its Aug. 26 meeting. The finalized plan is due to the Virginia Department of Education by Sept. 1.
Henrico school system officials already have allocated the first two rounds of funding. The first round of ESSER funds given to HCPS, totaling $9.3 million, was allocated to technology for distance learning, counselors and clinic attendants.
The second round of funding, which supplied the district with $34.8 million to support operational expenses, was used to fund school buses, minivans, WiFi hotspots, air filters and purifiers.
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Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar.
