IUSD shares spending plan for $3.9M in COVID funding
IMPERIAL — The Imperial Unified School District is eligible to receive nearly $4 million in federal dollars for COVID-19 relief.
A presentation given during the IUSD Board meeting Thursday showed how the district plans to use the $3,949,122 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSR) funds under the American Rescue Plan Act.
As part of the requirement to receive the funding, district had to complete a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services plan.
Summer Heraz, IUSD’s director of curriculum, instruction and projects, presented the plan to the board of trustees during its meeting Thursday.
IUSD needed the in place in order to apply for its allocated ESSR funds before the Dec. 17 deadline.
The plan had to explain how the district intends to use the funds to address students’ academic, social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as any resolve opportunity gaps that were worsened by the pandemic, according to the board agenda.
Out of the total amount, school district plans to use $2,514,297 toward strategies for continuous and safe in-person learning.
The district plans to split this $2,514,297 into 12 actions. They include:
■ Curriculum and social emotional learning: The IUSD will use $630,000 purchase additional curriculum in order to support the transition to in-person and support the students on independent study contracts.
■ Facilities upgrades: $600,000 will be used to repair roofs at two school sites to ensure high-quality air. The two sites are Ben Hulse Elementary School and Imperial High School. Specifically, these funds will be used for the necessary roofing and waterproofing supplies.
■ Additional restrooms: $400,000 will be used to purchase two restroom units to avoid overcrowding in restrooms. This will also allow for more access to handwashing.
■ Maintenance equipment improvements: $210,000 will be used to purchase additional maintenance equipment, update current cleaning equipment and upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality.
■ Physical education equipment: $50,000 will be used to purchase additional PE equipment for all sites to limit sharing among students.
■ Library books: $20,000 will be used to purchase additional library books in order to limit the circulation of books and allow for more cleaning time between checkouts.
As for the remaining $1,434,825, the district plans to use $789,825 toward addressing the academic impact of lost instructional time:
■ Student support: $535,105 will be used to offer opportunities for after-school tutoring/Saturday academies, intramural supports, arts and music, and social-emotional learning. Additionally, students in independent study will be supported throughout the school day and after.
•Short- and long-term independent study sup
port: $254,720 will be used to support teachers in facilitating the independent learning process for students who either choose this learning method or for those who are required to quarantine.
The remaining $645,000 will be applied in two ways:
•Technology upgrades: The IUSD will reserve $600,000 for technology upgrades and will allocate these funds to each site to
improve student access to technology.
•Professional development: $25,000 will be used to provide professional development to staff (for instance, Google certification, CUE Conference).