LIMA — The federal government provided three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to school districts across the nation. The first round, ESSER I, has to be spent by Sept. 30, 2022. The deadline for ESSER II is Sept. 30, 2023. The third round, and by far the largest, has to be spent by Sept. 30, 2024
The rate at which districts are spending this money varies widely. Some local districts haven’t spent any of the latest round of funds, which accounts for more than half the total since the pandemic began, while others expect to spend it all this calendar year. On average, Ohio districts have spent only 15%. The money presents an opportunity to address academic and mental health setbacks suffered by students during the pandemic.
Katie Silberstein, strategic projects lead at Edunomics, said districts run a risk if they drag their feet. Holding on to the money to spend it later will mean that students intended to benefit from the funds will graduate. But mostly, the money should be spent helping students now, not spent to shore up district budgets, Silberstein said.
“The money was intended to help students get back on track after the pandemic,” she said.
Silberstein said parents and taxpayers should demand transparency in how this money is spent. “Our big questions are what investments are you making with those funds? And how is it helping kids? And how are you measuring that if at all?” she said.
The expenditure of allotted funds is as varied as districts.
While in Ohio some districts are hiring counselors, some districts are contracting with outside agencies for mental health services.
One expenditure from ESSER funds was for preschool playground equipment. Some districts bought new buses or new vans, which it uses instead of buses. One district spent $1.5 million to maintain two modular buildings for two years to improve social distancing and airflow. One district plans to spend $894,193 to support school security officers.
A district spent ESSER funds on Playstations and other prizes to encourage kids to attend school through the pandemic. Another district spent $23,443 for a new John Deere Gator tractor. A district spent $36,287 sending school board members and administrators on trips to schools across the country to study project-based learning.
Parents and taxpayers need to be aware of the funds and how they are being spent by each school district.
District ` Allotted ` Spent ` Percent Spent
Ada ` $1,273,216 ` $0 ` 0.0%
Allen East ` $909,456 ` $497,606 ` 54.7%
Auglaize County Educational Academy ` $135,570 ` $0 ` 0.0%
Bath ` $1,939,239 ` $165,697 ` 8.5%
Bluffton ` $601,581 ` $217,067 ` 36.1%
Delphos ` $1,423,912 ` $266,059 ` 18.7%
Elida ` $4,394,450 ` $215,355 ` 4.9%
Heir Force Community School ` $1,054,551 ` $43,272 ` 4.1%
Kalida ` $87,709 ` $973 ` 1.1%
Lima ` $21,633,450 ` $1,678,126 ` 7.8%
New Knoxville ` $159,050 ` $22,916 ` 14.4%
Ottawa-Glandorf ` $922,813 ` $377,739 ` 40.9%
Pandora-Gilboa ` $261,100 ` $202,127 ` 77.4%
Perry ` $1,383,341 ` $22,700 ` 1.6%
Shawnee ` $1,860,740 ` $888,073 ` 47.7%
Spencerville ` $1,103,154 ` $682,198 ` 61.8%
Van Wert ` $2,836,354 ` $0 ` 0.0%
Wapakoneta ` $2,730,974 ` $1,012,321 ` 37.1%
West Central Learning Academy II ` $295,853 ` $21,017 ` 7.1%
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
