The American Recovery Plan - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund(ARP ESSER) is intended to address the impact that Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools. ARP ESSER funds are used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Celina City Schools shall, to the greatest extent practicable, continue to compensate its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to COVID-19, based on the unique financial circumstances of the entity.
Celina City Schools will ensure that every recipient and sub recipient of ESSER funds will cooperate with any examination of records with respect to such funds by making records available for inspection, production, and examination, and authorized individuals available for interview and examination, upon the request of (i) the Department and/or its Inspector General; or (ii) any other federal agency, commission, or department in the lawful exercise of its jurisdiction and authority.
Celina City Schools will ensure that it will comply with the requirements of section 427 of GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1228a). Celina City Schools commits to maintaining and will produce upon request by the (i) the Department and/or its Inspector General; or (ii) any other federal agency, commission, or department in the lawful exercise of its jurisdiction and authority, a description of how the LEA complied with this requirement including putting in place steps to permit students, teachers and other program beneficiaries to overcome barriers (including barriers based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability and age) that might impede equal access to, or participation in, the program.
Not less than 20 percent of the LEA's total ARP ESSER allocation will be used to address learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive after school programs, extended school year programs, or other evidence-based interventions, and ensure that such interventions respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on student subgroups (each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care).
Celina City Schools will use these funds to meet students' social, emotional, and academic needs, including through summer enrichment programming and other evidence-based interventions, and how they advance equity for underserved students;
Celina City Schools are utilizing a variety of strategies to keep our schools safe and open. These include using funds to retain staff, improve safety with a school resource officer, and purchase transportation vehicles to continue and enhance safe transportation of students to and from school. We will use the funds to pay for the transportation of our students to and from summer enrichment.
We will utilize funds to continue and enhance instruction through the use of technology (computers), curriculum materials (textbooks for math and science), and instructional coaches (for our literacy program).
Celina City Schools certifies that it has engaged in meaningful consultation with stakeholders and gives the public an opportunity to provide input in the development of its plan.
Celina City Schools will utilize the entirety of our funds to keep our schools safe and open and continue to offer high quality instruction to our students.
Our funding plan aligns with the needs of our schools. We will monitor the impact of our plan through the use of surveys and interviews with our stakeholders and community members and by analyzing our student achievement results. Celina City Schools have conducted an assessment to analyze the needs of our schools with our stakeholders. We used the results of the needs assessment to design a plan to utilize the available funds.
Celina City Schools will begin utilizing the funds this year and throughout the next few years. This year, we will be using funds to retain staff. This year and next, we will be purchasing curriculum materials, technology, and transportation vehicles. For next year and beyond, we will be using funds to retain our literacy coaches and purchase additional technology.
Our technology purchases (computers) will allow us to be 1 to 1 with our devices. We will not have to share devices and each student will have their own device. Should we have to go remote (i.e. from a school closure, each student will be able to connect with their teacher and participate in instruction.
Celina City Schools will be purchasing math and science materials that will continue to enhance those programs. The new materials will be selected based on the current and future needs of the students and will feature opportunities for remediation and review. Also, we have enhanced our literacy program by adding literacy coaches. These coaches will help our staff with assessment analysis, coaching cycles (to improve instruction), program implementation, etc.
Celina City Schools are utilizing funds to retain our administrative, certified, and classified staff members to enable us to continue offering high quality services and provide safe environments for learning. With retaining these staff, we are able to continue to provide safe and high quality learning environments for all of our students and staff. We will be employing substitutes to cover our classrooms while our teachers are completing professional development.
Celina City Schools will be employing four literacy coaches to assist teachers as we incorporate our new phonics and reading curriculum.
Celina City Schools will be employing a School Resource Officer to provide extra support to our students and staff. This will improve our students and staff's level of anxiety and allow for them to better concentrate on their learning activities. We will be paying for the necessary professional development for our School Resource officer.