Poplar Investing In Schools With ESSER Funds

Poplar Schools continue to improve its facility through federal ESSER funds.

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief act provides funding to address the impact of COVID-19 on elementary and secondary schools.

Poplar has utilized $41,295,230 in ESSER I funds and $170,099,465 in ESSER II funds.

Poplar superintendent of schools Dan Schmidt said the purpose of these funds is to help maintain a safe and effective learning environment through the operations of our schools while addressing the impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Items covered with the ESSER I funds included were divided among each school for indirect costs, student resources, staff materials and then money for technology, transportation, maintenance and food services.

Esser II funds are being used for recruitment and retention stipends, improving instructional services, online textbooks subscriptions, purchase professional and technical services, supplies, driver’s ed vehicles and facilities improvements with new unit ventilators.

The school district will receive $382,019,236. The school district hasn’t spent any of those funds at this time.

Poplar has held meetings with staff members and the community regarding areas where to spend ESSER III funds.