GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Green Bay schools are asking staff, parents, and the community on how to use a large grant expected to arrive through the American Rescue Plan.
Officials in the Green Bay Area Public School District are expecting to receive approximately $44 million in one-time funding through the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief grant program. Director of Communications Lori Blakeslee says the funding can have a huge impact.
“When the Wisconsin legislature passed the 21-23 biennium budget, they did encourage districts to use those funds to replace what would have been a potential increase. Districts did not receive an increase in their funding,” Blakeslee told WTAQ News. “There’s an expectation at least about 20 percent of that $44 million for addressing learning loss and how we are proposing to do that.”
Funds must be spent by September 30, 2024 for the purpose of addressing the impact of the pandemic on students.
Last year, similar funding was used to create a summer school program for all-day care, which included sections for academics and social development and growth.
“Our goal is to do that for the next 2 years using ESSER dollars, so that again families have that opportunity of no-cost child care for their children so that they can go back to work,” Blakeslee said.
Prior to submitting the District’s final ESSER III plan to the Department of Public Instruction in March, staff, parents and community members are asked to view a brief informational video and complete a short questionnaire on how the funds should be spent.
“What is the money for? What is the expectation of the federal government on how we’re going to use those funds?” Blakeslee said. “Watch the video to see how we are anticipating using the funds, and then go to our website and fill out the form and let us know what other suggestions they might have.”
All responses are due by February 25 at 4:00 p.m.
Visit the District website to view the video and to complete the feedback form.
Comments