PENDLETON — Through four rounds of COVID-19-related emergency governmental funding, both federal and state, South Madison Community School Corp. was awarded $209 per student for use through fall 2024.
Laura Miller, assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction, gave a report on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds at the April 7 school board meeting.
The district has received nearly $4.2 million in aid for use between March 14, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2024, through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, ESSER II, ESSER III and Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding.
Some of the funds must be used by Sept. 30 of this year, while other funds must be used by either Sept. 30, 2023, or Sept. 30, 2024.
“There were three (federal) grants that were given to the schools,” Miller said. “The first was CARES, sometimes called ESSER I, and ESSER II and ESSER III. The GEER grant, the state got money also and part of that was allocated to students.”
Districts received funding based on poverty level and enrollment numbers.
In comparison, nationally and to other area districts, South Madison received less than the national average of $855 per student per year. Frankton-Lapel Schools received an average of $244 per student and a total allocation of $3,352,565.
Other area schools mentioned in the presentation included Anderson Schools ($1,418.92 per student and total of $41,860,912) and Mt. Vernon Schools ($115.46 per student and total of $2,296,525).
The funding was meant to address pandemic-related learning loss, instructional programs, support for educators, technology preparedness, health and safety to reduce risk of virus transmission, college and career readiness, employability skills, improving indoor air quality and sustainable innovations.
Miller said GEER funding is solely for technology preparedness, such as WiFi hotspots for students who might not otherwise be able to work remotely.
“These are one-time funds and are designed to help us get school back going, increase our health and safety with re-opening, and learning loss,” Miller told the board.
According to Indiana Department of Education ESSER Dashboard, South Madison has been reimbursed $1.7 million of the allocated funds and has $2.5 million remaining (59.5%).
Frankton-Lapel Schools has been reimbursed $1.6 million with $1.7 million remaining (51.4%).
Personnel news
Certified staff retirements: Timothy Thomas, social studies teacher, Pendleton Heights High School; Patricia Hinton, special education teacher, Pendleton Heights High School; Ronald Hinton, math teacher, Pendleton Heights High School.
Certified staff resignations: Christian Seal, language arts teacher, Pendleton Heights High School; Amber Douglas, language arts teacher, Pendleton Heights High School
Support staff resignations: James Hadley, maintenance, Administrative Service Center; Jenna Taylor, technology technician, Pendleton Heights Middle School
Support staff recommendations: Jennifer Monroe, alternative education instructional assistant, Pendleton Heights Middle School; Jessica Myers, beginner band staff, Pendleton Heights Middle School; Patrisha Vance, instructional assistant, East Elementary School
ECA (Extracurricular activities) resignation: Chad Cook, head coach girls basketball, Pendleton Heights High School
ECA recommendation: Peyton Huth, boys track and field assistant coach, Pendleton Heights High School.
Trip request: Pendleton Heights High School football team, to Trine University, Angola, for Trine Football Camp, June 27-29
Leave request: Tim Manuzzi, March 29-May 2022, Pendleton Elementary School