Pandemic Resources

Posted by on Mar 31, 2020 in | Comments Off on Pandemic Resources

Smart Restart Handbook Revised 12/15/2021

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ESSER II Budget

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ESSER II

Presently the plan is for ESSER II dollars is to cover some supply costs associated with COVID-19 as well as some eligible software.  In addition, dollars going towards covering eligible noncertified staff expenses.  This was an additional position created to help deal with the workload associated with COVID-19.  We are also utilizing these dollars to improve our building envelope system.  This will prevent the infiltration of outside aerosol droplets as well as help our HVAC system run more effectively.  This covers our intentions for the 2020-2021 school year.

For 2021-2022 we are using some of the dollars to purchase enough computers to equip each high school student with their own device.  We are also setting aside some dollars to address building needs.  One likely project would be to commission our environmental control systems to improve our overall air quality.  We are looking at improving our Agricultural classes to in turn improve our overall CTE offerings. This will provide the ag classroom with new wielders and a sanitization station.

To address the loss of learning for the 21-24 school years we will be purchasing Reinssance Learning and IXL subscriptions to provide our instructors with tools to monitor the progress of students.  This will be utilized by our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to identify students in need of additional supports and to group students for WIN (What I Need) time in the elementary.

With the new legislation, we are also required to implement strategies that reflect the science of reading to grades K-3.  Dollars have been allocated to provide curricular resources and professional development to address this need.  This will also help us align our language arts curriculum in those grades as well as provide better quality instruction in reading for those students.  This training and curricular update will extend pasting K-3 and eventually encompass K-6.

COVID brings with it many challenges including those caused by losing instructional time.  Our teachers have been putting in a tremendous amount of work to ensure high-quality education is still occurring.  For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years certified staff will be offered a workload bonus for work above and beyond their contract time caused by COVID or addressing lost instructional time.

ESSER III

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We will be improving the overall indoor air quality of the building.  In conjunction with earlier funds used to replace eight-unit ventilators, an additional nine are being replaced.  This includes air conditioning features for those unit ventilators on the third floor.  We plan to allocate $217,972 dollars towards this end with another $150,000 from USDA once a new round of funding for rural projects rolls over in October 2021.  We will purchase air purifiers for some of our classrooms to help keep the air in the classrooms clean and virus-free.  We will consider the possibility of commissioning our heating system to further improve the indoor air quality of our school.

Some costs of ESSER III will be applied towards additional ancillary staff that helps us address the additional workload caused by COVID-19.  These staff help with central office operations as well as additional cleaning.

To address the loss of learning we are adding additional staffing to make better use of our WIN (What I Need) times.  Our title position is becoming full-time and will work within our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to provide students with the interventions they need at the earliest possible stage.  We are adding additional student strategist support in addition to this to provide higher quality intervention supports during those times.  In addition to this ESSER III funds will be used in the 2022-2023 school year to continue our After School Program.  This program makes educators available after school to help assist students in the completion of their homework and for additional instruction.

In order to keep filling our teacher positions, we have had to offer various incentives and work with exchange programs.  ESSER III funds can be used for the recruitment and retention of teachers.  The cost of these incentives will be covered by ESSER III as we work to continue to keep a fully staffed that is necessary to meet the needs of all of our students.

Presently $41,828.94 has not been allocated for a specific expenditure.  Our hope is to use these dollars to address any budgetary shortfalls that may crop up due to expenses incurred by COVID-19 or to maintain continuity of services with limited funding.

Approved ESSER II & III Application

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  • Funding Opportunity 9267-ESSER II – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund IIProgram Area CARES-CRRSA-ARPStatus Executed

    Contract Number 001

    Contract Template CRRSA ESSER II

  • Contract TitleContract Period –Executed Date 08/12/2021

     

    Grant Award

    NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

    OFFICE OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT

     

    Basic Information and Signatory Sheet

     

     

    Program Title

    ESSER II 3/20-9/23 84.425D

     

    		 Program Number

    9338

     

    Grantor

    North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

    600 E. Boulevard Avenue Dept 201

    Bismarck, ND 58505-0440

    		 Grantor Contact Person

    Laurie Matzke

     
    Grantor Telephone Number

    701-328-2284

    		 Grantor Email Address

    lmatzke@nd.gov

    Grantee

    Grantee Name

    Elgin New Leipzig School District 49

    		 Grantee Contact Person

    Daniel Ludvigson

    		 Grantee SAM.gov Entity ID

    LXEKKDG7EMJ5
    Grantee Telephone Number

    (701) 584-2374

    		 Grantee Email Address

    daniel.ludvigson@k12.nd.us
    Grantee Address

    PO Box 70

    		 Grantee City and State

    Elgin, North Dakota

    		 Grantee Zip Code +4

    58533-____

     

    Grant Award Information

    Type of Award Project Period (MM/DD/YYYY) Basis for Award
    Federal Grant From: 3/13/2020

    To: 9/30/2023

    		 Formula

    Funding Source

    FAIN Number (Award Number)         

    S425D210007

    		 CFDA Number      

    84.425D

    		 Federal Awarding Agency

    US Dept of Education

    		 Federal Award Date   

    1/6/21

    		 CFDA Project Name/Description

    Elementary and Secondary School

    Emergency Relief Fund

    		 Total Amount to State under FAIN Number

    (Award Amount)

    $135,924,393.00

    Is this an R&D Grant?

    no

    Indirect Cost rate for Award

    0.0%

    Financial Information
    1. Amount of Grant Award

    $230,747.00

    		 2. Previous Funds Awarded for Project

    $0

    		 Total Funds Awarded (Box 1 plus Box 2)

    $230,747.00
     

    A local educational agency that receives funds under this title may use the funds for any of the following:

    1. Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Alaska Native Educational Equity, Support, and Assistance Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) (“IDEA”), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) (“the Perkins Act”), or subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).
    2. Coordination of preparedness and response efforts of local educational agencies with State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments, and other relevant agencies, to improve coordinated responses among such entities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
    3. Providing principals and others school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.
    4. Activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth, including how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population.
    5. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of local educational agencies.
    6. Training and professional development for staff of the local educational agency on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
    7. Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of a local educational agency, including buildings operated by such agency.
    8. Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including for how to provide meals to eligible students, how to provide technology for online learning to all students, how to provide guidance for carrying out requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) and how to ensure other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all Federal, State, and local requirements.
    9. Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students who are served by the local educational agency that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.
    10. Providing mental health services and supports.
    11. Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness,      and children in foster care.
    12. Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in local educational agencies and continuing to employ existing staff of the local educational agency.
    13. Addressing learning loss among students, including low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster are, of the local educational agency, including by:

    a. Administering and using high-quality assessments that are valid and reliable, to accurately assess students’ academic progress and assist educators in meeting students’ academic needs, including through differentiating instruction.

    b. Implementing evidence-based activities to meet the comprehensive needs of students.

    c. Providing information and assistance to parents and families on how they can effectively support students, including in a distance learning environment.

    d. Tracking student attendance and improving student engagement in distance education.

    1. School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs.
    2. Inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, purification and other air cleaning, fans, control systems, and window and door repair and replacement.
    3. Developing strategies and implementing public health protocols to align with the guidance from the CDC for the reopening and operation of school facilities to effectively maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff.
    4. Additional Pay – for example, a local educational agency (LEA) might use local ESSER funds to provide employees with additional pay to: address recruitment or retention challenges in light of the pandemic; provide additional compensation to teachers and other staff that work in-person; provide additional compensation to teachers and other staff that have assumed new duties because of COVID; incentivize effective teachers to move to schools with vulnerable students that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, or provide additional pay to substitute teachers where there is a shortage. Other pay strategies could also be permissible if the LEA can connect the strategy to issues resulting from COVID-19.
    5. Transportation – An LEA could use local ESSER funds for a variety of transportation costs like running additional bus routes with fewer students to permit physical distancing and where appropriate, reimbursing families for mileage expense, if families provide transportation.
    6. High Quality Instructional Materials and Curricula and Related Professional Development – for example, an LEA could use local ESSER funds to purchase a new, evidence-based K-2 reading curriculum districtwide and related professional development to address unfinished learning and accelerate early literacy skills; districtwide curriculum with both online and in-person options; additional materials and teacher training to implement Advanced Placement (AP) classes in schools, and where necessary provide additional support so that all students, particularly vulnerable students, can access and succeed in AP classes, social and emotional learning programs; Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) materials, such as Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions aligned to strong Tier 1 curriculum, as well as related screening tools; and career and technical education programming.
    7. Acquisition of Real Property or Modular Classrooms – an LEA could use local ESSER funds to acquire real property or modular classrooms if needed to respond to COVID-19. For example, additional space might help an LEA to re-open schools in-person consistent with CDC guidelines.
    8. Construction and Renovation – ESSER funds can be used for construction and renovation costs when reasonable and necessary to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, an LEA might use ESSER local funds to undertake construction or renovation to help an LEA to clean effectively, like bringing an unused wing of a school into compliance with fire and safety codes to create more space.
    9. Budgetary Shortfalls – ESSER local funds can be used to assist with budget shortfalls resulting from the pandemic. Specifically, as with all uses of ESSER I or II funds, a proposed use of funds must be “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to” COVID-19. This Means that ESSER funds may be used to bridge budget shortfalls if the deficit is related to the coronavirus and the ESSER funds are needed for education-related expenses.

     
     Terms and Conditions

     
    1. Federal Requirements

    The school district assures:

    1. The LEA Superintendent acknowledges and agrees that failure to comply with all assurances and certifications in this recovery plan, all relevant provisions and requirements of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 201 (CRRSA Act), Pub. L. No. 116-260 (December 27, 2020), or any other applicable law or regulation may result in liability under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729, et seq.; OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR Part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR Part 3485; and 18 U.S.C. § 1001, as appropriate, and other enforcement actions.
    2. The LEA that receives ESSER II funds will, to the greatest extent practicable, continue to compensate its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to COVID-19 in compliance with Section 315 of Division M of the CRRSA Act. In addition, LEAs that accept funds will continue to pay employees and contractors to the greatest extent practicable based on the unique financial circumstances of the LEA. CRRSA Act funds generally will not be used for bonuses, merit pay, or similar expenditures, unless related to disruptions or closures resulting from COVID-19.
    3. The LEA will cooperate with any SEA monitoring policies and/or procedures with regards to the allowability of expenditures.
    4. The LEA will use ESSER II funds for purposes that are reasonable, necessary, and allocable under the CRRSA Act.
    5. The LEA will cooperate with any examination of records with respect to such funds by making records available for inspection, production, examination, and authorized individuals for interview and examination, upon request.
    6. The LEA will comply with the provisions of all applicable acts, regulations, and assurances; the following provisions of Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR Parts 76, 77, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and 99; the OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR Part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR Part 3485; and the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR Part 3474.
    7. The LEA will comply with General Education Provision Act (GEPA) Sections 427 and 442.
    8. The LEA will take all necessary steps to allow every student, teacher, and other program beneficiary to participate in the ESSER II program. If any barrier arises that impedes equal access to, or participation, in the program, the LEA will quickly address and resolve those issues. (GEPA 427)
    9. The LEA will comply with the maintenance of effort provision in Section 317(b) thereof.
    10. The LEA will comply with all reporting requirements and submit required quarterly reports to the NDDPI at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may subsequently require. Additional reporting may be required in the future, which may include: the methodology LEAs will use to provide services or assistance to students and staff in both public and non-public schools, the uses of funds by the LEAs or other entities and demonstration of their compliance with Section 18003(d), such as any use of funds addressing the digital divide, including securing access to home-based connectivity and remote-use devices, related issues in supporting remote learning for all students, including disadvantaged populations.
    11. The LEA will comply with all applicable assurances in OMB Standard Forms 424B and D (Assurances for Non-Construction and Construction Programs), including the assurances relating to the legal authority to apply for assistance; access to records; conflict of interest; merit systems; nondiscrimination; Hatch Act provisions; labor standards; flood hazards; historic preservation; protection of human subjects; animal welfare; lead-based paint; Single Audit Act; and the general agreement to comply with all applicable Federal laws, executive orders and regulations.
    12. The LEA will comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) requirements in Subpart D—Post Federal Award Requirements (2 CFR §§200.300-345) and Subpart E—Cost Principles (2 CFR §§200.400-475) to ensure that LEAs, including charter schools that are LEAs, are using ESSER funds for purposes that are reasonable, necessary, and allocable under the CARES Act.
    13. The LEA will use such fiscal control and accounting procedures as will ensure proper disbursement of, and accounting for, federal funds.
    14. The LEA will comply with federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age. These laws include the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (34 CFR 100), the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (34 CRF 106). Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 CFR 104), and the Age Discrimination Act (34 CFR 110).
    15. The LEA will keep such records as may be reasonably required for a fiscal audit and permit NDDPI and auditors to have access to grantee’s records and financial statement related to this grant, as necessary.
    16. The LEA will conduct background checks of all personnel who will have direct contact/interaction with students involved in the program.

     

    2. Additional Requirements

    Requests for Reimbursement/Claims must be submitted in the WebGrants system.  Ledgers, receipts, invoices, and a summary report must be submitted as supporting documentation with all claims.

     

    School districts receiving elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds shall provide two narrative summary reports to the superintendent of public instruction, including information regarding learning losses of students identified within the district, including subgroup gaps; school district plans to accelerate learning recover for all students, including closing subgroup gaps; use of funds, including the percentage of those funds expended in categories determined by the superintendent of public instruction; and the impact expenditures had on accelerating the learning recovery for the district’s students.

     

    3. The indirect cost rate is the rate approved by NDDPI or your cognizant Federal Agency

     

    4. Grantee is to permit NDDPI and auditors to have access to grantee’s records and financial statements related to this grant as necessary

     

    5. Grant Closeout Requirements

    LEAs will be required to submit a ledger documenting the percentage of ESSER II funds spent on learning loss when closing out the grant.