ARP ESSER Spending Plan
Warren County Public Schools

Relief fund expenditures began in March 2020, and the following information includes projected expenditures of relief funds through September 2024. 

1. The extent to which and how funds will be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on reopening schools follow:

• ESSER I funds were used to reopen schools.  Specifically, funds were used to purchase PPE such as masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, etc…. In addition, ESSER I funds were used to improve the air quality in each of our schools and other buildings throughout the district.  Other prevention and mitigation strategies such as touchless faucets, water bottle filling stations, were also implemented.  We continue to use ESSER I funds to make improvements to our schools that will help us prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID.  
• We plan to use ARP/ESSER III funds in multiple ways to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on reopening schools.  

• Nurses - $257,760 - We plan to hire additional nurses for the next two years to assist with the increased responsibilities and demands that are being experienced due to COVID.  
• Health Aides - $1,458,360 - We plan to use ARP/ESSER III funds to hire full time health aides at each of our schools for one to two years.  In the past, we have had part time health aides at each school.  We strongly believe that it is critical to have the positions be full time with all of the extra demands due to COVID.
• Continuity of Educational Services During the Pandemic - $5,900,000 - Fringe-benefit payments to staff members for the continuity of educational services during the pandemic.  The payments are in consideration of the additional duties and services that are required as a result of the pandemic.
  

2. How the local education agency (LEA) will use funds to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions follow:

• The Warren County Public School (WCPS) system is dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners served in our schools. As a result, the federal funding received will be utilized to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through a variety of evidenced-based interventions. Below is a listing of impactful measures that will be invoked to accelerate learning for our students.

• ESS/Summer - $250,000 -  The extension of learning opportunities outside of the regular school day will provide students the avenue to (1) receive assistance for challenging content and (2) minimize the effects of summer and/or pandemic-related learning loss.

• Preschool Academy - $2,000,000 - The inception of a targeted Preschool Academy will be instrumental in creating the foundational learning environment for our youngest learners, four days each week.  Data shows that Kentucky lost a third of its Preschool student enrollment during the pandemic.  Incorporating the Preschool Academy will provide an avenue for developmentally appropriate teaching and learning for our little learners.

• Instructional Coaches - $5,400,000 - The institution of instructional coaches in each of our 23 schools, provides a means for increasing teacher effectiveness and improving student performance. Each of our A-1 schools will have an on-site instructional coach who will build teacher capacity within individual classrooms and among school staff teams.
• EL--  $200,000 - WCPS has a very diverse student population, with approximately 2600 learners receiving EL services. Meeting the needs of each student is a priority.  Additional technology, curriculum purchases for individual academic support, and model assessments will be instrumental in providing a means to reach and advance our international students as they learn and grow.
• GT - $441,600 - WCPS has approximately 3600 students identified as Gifted and Talented. Meeting the needs of each student is a priority. The financial support in this area will provide the channel to increase the identification of students, increase the capacity of current staff in serving GT students, and potentially add additional staff in efforts to address learning loss and expand opportunities for our K-12 GT exceptional children.
• Technology - Google Workspace (Virtual Learning), Headphones, Teacher Workstations - $2,343,000 - The pandemic brought to the forefront, a need to increase the ability to connect with students through virtual means. The financial support in this area will be impactful as we look to increase the high-quality, highly reliable connectivity between school, students, and home.
• Alternative School Funding - $200,000 -  The extension of teaching/learning environments outside of the regular school setting provides students a route to (1) receive alternative learning for challenging content (2) minimize the effects of pandemic-related learning loss (3) engage in supported credit recovery opportunities (4) work at their own pace and based on their individual life circumstances in efforts to graduate and be college/career ready and (5) learn within the mental health/social needs of the individual student .
  

3. How the LEA will spend the remainder of its funds -

• The remaining ARP/ESSER funds will be spent in a variety of ways that will assist Warren County Public Schools in the execution of the mission of providing an engaging, inspiring, and challenging learning environment, which prioritizes safety, achievement, and opportunity.  WCPS will spend funds in the following areas:

• Mental Health Providers - $489,600 - Mental health referrals have more than doubled since the beginning of COVID, and we expect it to take the next few years to level out.  Additional mental health counselors will be hired and assist with meeting the needs of our students.  
• Career and Technical Education Programming - $1,000,000 - Funds will be allocated to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that will bridge the gap between high school and postsecondary plans.  The funds will be used to fund curriculum, instructional resources, assessments for students, materials and supplies for classes, program equipment, and other items aligned to CTE program standards.  
• Related Arts Allocations - $1,590,000 - Music, chorus, strings, band, physical education, and art are important components of providing a well-rounded education for students and important opportunities for many of them.  These funds will be used to provide important resources at all levels that may include but are not limited to instruments, uniforms, equipment, materials, training, and supplies.  
• Area Technology Center - $100,000 - Warren County Public Schools have the opportunity to attend the local Area Technology Center (ATC).  The ACT is in need of additional equipment and/or replacing equipment to provide their programming.  The funds will be used to make those purchases.
• Technology - $2,307,000 - Warren County Public Schools has many diverse technology needs.  Funds will be used to address some of these areas: data security and multi-factor authentication, network equipment, hotspot devices, presentation and audio-video equipment, streaming capabilities, intercoms, account syncing, and text to speech software.  Addressing these technology needs are related to all three areas of our mission - safety, achievement, and opportunity.  
• Booster and PTO Funds - $773,590 - During the pandemic, booster clubs and PTO groups experienced a decrease in revenue due to an inability to fundraise and complete activities that would have happened during a normal school year.  Funds will be made available to these groups to purchase things that are needed by their particular group/organization.  These groups provide significant opportunities for our students, and it is critical that they be provided with a way to continue to do so.  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED TO KDE:

The process to spend funds in this category is the same as with other funds that are given at the school level.  With the approval of the SBDM Councils,  schools created budgets for spending the PTO/Booster funds allocations.  These were entered into GMAP for each specific location.  The schools are in the process of revising their budgets.  Any revisions will be updated periodically in GMAP.  Again, all revised budgets are approved by each schools’ SBDM Councils.

There is a strong relationship between physical activity and mental health. The use of these funds were designed to Prevent Covid-19 and Respond to Covid-19.  Some parent organizations raise funds to provide schools with the following: additional classroom materials and resources, technology devices, supply funds for staff and paraprofessionals, uniforms and other necessary program supplies.   During the Pandemic, the students and programs were negatively impacted by their inability to raise additional funds.  Therefore, ESSER funds were utilized to allow students to have a continuity of programs and services that are vital in their learning and development. Some schools chose to use these funds to  expand outdoor learning opportunities for students, thus preventing the spread of Covid.  All expenditures from this category are requisitioned through the school and follow the district and state financial guidelines.

• School Discretionary - $4,000,000 - Warren County Public Schools is a large district with many schools that have very diverse needs.  Each school will be given discretionary funds based upon Average Daily Attendance and poverty levels.  These funds will be able to be used for a variety of things based upon individual needs.  Purchases may include but are not limited to - staffing, extracurricular activities, co-curricular activities, clubs, STEAM labs, outdoor classrooms, curriculum and resources, technology, supplies, professional learning, furniture.
• Passenger Vans - $200,000 - Transportation can prove to be a significant barrier to student participation in various activities.  The purchase of additional vans will allow schools to provide transportation to small groups of students for field trips, extracurricular activities, and co-curricular activities.  The vans will also be used to transport teachers and staff to various professional learning opportunities.  
• Recruitment, Retainment, and Equity Coordinator - $250,000 - This position will examine internal policies to ensure equitable access for all schools in the area of technology, data access, resources, funding, staffing, and support.  They will develop plans to address any issues that are found.  This position will address all three areas of priority for our district - safety, achievement, and opportunities.  
• Library - $184,000 - Our media centers will use funds to extend the library collection and increase Makerspaces for students to investigate, explore, design, and create.  The opportunities will enhance innovation in our library media centers.  
• Curriculum Needs - $760,000 - The funding for additional materials will be used to support the growth in WCPS over the next few years.  The evidence based materials will be used to support students in multiple areas of learning.   

• Preschool - $250,000 - The funds for preschool will be used to increase materials needed to serve our little learners and furniture to equip our students with the best learning environment that meets the needs of our students.
• Indirect Costs - $4,031,750.30 - Indirect costs will be used to pay for administration of the grant, printing, district audit expenses, accounting services, human resources services, technology services, and utilities.  All indirect costs will be according to state and federal guidelines.
  

4. How the LEA will ensure that interventions address the academic impact of lost instructional time and respond to the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of all students. Additionally, plans must include relevant citations for each evidence-based practice listed in the plan, a description of how the district conducted meaningful consultation with the required stakeholders and how they took stakeholder feedback into account when crafting the plan. In accordance with new requirements for the USED, districts must submit this plan to KDE by July 31, 2021. Plans may be submitted via email to: kdearpesser@education.ky.gov. Plans will be reviewed by Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff for completion and compliance. Plans that do not include each of the aforementioned components will be returned to the district for revision.
   

• Warren County Public Schools will ensure that interventions address the academic impact of lost instructional time and respond to the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of all students by implementing numerous strategies.  One strategy that will address the academic impact is to increase the academic resources for teachers to use to address learning loss such as evidence-based curriculum (Into Reading, Into Math, Amplify Science, Expedition Learning, Illustrative Math ) additional intervention materials, access to challenging work aligned to grade-level expectations supported by equipment for students to use in STEAM and science labs, related arts, etc (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures).  

Another strategy that will address the academic impact is to increase learning time for students.  The Preschool Academy will provide additional time for preschool students to grow academically, socially and developmentally.  ESS and Summer school will allow students to gain additional skills in the areas of individual needs.  

Warren County will address the social, emotional and mental health needs by increasing services to students.  Mental Health providers will be increased in our school system to address the mental health and social needs of our students.  The social needs of students will also be addressed by increasing opportunities for students in related arts, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities.  Gifted services will increase with additional gifted teachers to serve our gifted and talented students. Additionally, staff will receive continued professional learning in cultural proficiency, gifted education, and positive behavior support to help teachers make connections to students and foster stronger relationships among diverse populations of students and staff.  

To further address educator needs that can be significant barriers to teacher efficacy and student learning, WCPS will provide additional time for teacher planning and collaboration, which has been ranked one of the top three challenging barriers in teaching and addressing learning loss (Perspectives of Irreplaceable Teachers, TNTP, 2013). Additionally, teachers will receive coaching support as they implement new curricula that will ensure successful implementation of their high-quality instructional materials.

Stakeholder Consultation

• District level administrators developed a committee of representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups.  The committee consisted of district leaders, school leadership, teachers, support personnel, and community members.  During the first meeting an explanation of all ESSER funding received was shared with the group.  Committee members learned about the two previous rounds of funding and how they had been used.  The process for receiving ARP/ESSER funds and requirements of the grant were shared with the committee.  Several resources were also shared with the group to assist them in developing ideas to support students such as the funding matrix, use of funds FAQs, and the ARP ESSER Guidance.  The committee was given the direction to go meet with the groups they represent and discuss the best ways to support schools and students.  A google form was given to all committee members to use to submit ideas for the funds.  

At the next meeting the committee members were given access to all of the ideas submitted by committee members.  They were given the opportunity to ask questions and express their thoughts about the ideas.  Each committee member was asked to review the ideas and comment on the ideas through the Google document that was shared at the meeting.  

• After the committee members provided feedback on all of the ideas given through the consultation process, a district team met to discuss the ideas and funding opportunities.  The district team considered all ideas and worked to distribute the funds based upon priority of need and sustainability of actions.  The group met numerous times to develop this plan which strives to meet the various needs shared throughout the process.