Fort Wayne Community Schools ESSER/COVID
Pandemic Relief Funds
During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal funding providing immediate and long-term relief for expenses related to the pandemic and the health and safety of students and staff.
Fort Wayne Community Schools has carefully followed the guidelines for using the federal funding by focusing on the greatest needs of students and staff. This page details how FWCS has used and continues to use the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and other pandemic relief funds.
Ongoing Communicable Disease Plan
While the severity of COVID-19 is waning, schools continue to see occasional spikes in infection rates of COVID-19 and other illnesses. To address such outbreaks, FWCS will follow the COVID-19 Communicable Disease Response Plan.
ESSER I
Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act; approved March 27, 2020; $10.3 million* for immediate pandemic needs, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning and sanitizing materials, and similar expenses necessary to maintain school operations during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
ESSER II
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act; approved Dec. 27, 2020; $44.9 million for keeping schools open during the pandemic, including PPE and other supplies, improving air quality in school buildings and addressing learning loss during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
ESSER III
American Recovery Plan (ARP); approved March 11, 2021; $100.8 million for variety of expenses related to maintaining open schools and pandemic recovery, including supplies, building and air quality improvements, mental health needs and learning loss (20% must be spent on learning loss).
GEER
Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund; approved March 27, 2020; $2.3 million* to provide additional support to high need school districts, as determined by the state.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency funding; $722,667 for PPE and sanitizer.
* Portion distributed to private schools, as required.
Estimated amounts; actual expenditures may vary.
GEER - Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
ESSER - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
Extra School Day ($2.1 million)
Additional day for staff members to focus on professional learning.
Facilities ($75.6 million)
Renovating Arlington and Lincoln elementary schools to eliminate open-concept classroom plan; adding classrooms at Abbett Elementary to alleviate overcrowding; window replacements at 11 buildings; removal of asbestos- and mercury-containing floors; HVAC equipment replacements and upgrades; needle-point ionization air filtering; Nutrition Services freezer and dry-storage expansion
FWCS Indirect Cost ($18.8 million)
Covers expenses related to the management and reporting requirements of the federal grants, including salaries and other costs.
Health Services ($2.7 million)
Additional nurses and health aides to support students and address school building wellness needs.
Non-Public Share ($1.8 million)
ESSER I and GEER required equitable share to be provided to non-public schools.
Other Academic Support ($25.1 million)
Books, online materials and other supplies to address learning loss; professional learning expenses for staff; pay for staff members working additional hours
Pay Continuation ($721,954)
Continuing salary payments for employees during the 2020 school shutdown.
PPE, Sanitizer ($1.4 million)
FWCS bought thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer and millions of face masks to keep students and staff safe and healthy.
Security ($194,355)
Security improvements to address the health and safety of students and staff.
Summer School ($6.3 million)
Providing summer learning opportunities for students to address learning loss during the pandemic.