06.03.21
The U.S. Department of Education requires each school division that receives ARP ESSER III funds to submit a plan that describes how it will use the funds. This plan is published to Fluvanna County Public School’s website.
Section 1: Introduction
The purpose of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Fund is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on the nation’s students by addressing students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Fluvanna County Public Schools has been awarded $2,719,053.81 in ESSER III funds. This plan describes how the awarded funds will be used. Questions about this plan should be directed to Gemma Soares, Director of Elementary Instruction and Federal Programs, at gsoares@apps.fluco.org or 434-589-8208.
The primary goal of Fluvanna County Public Schools continues to be to safely offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible under the guidelines provided by the Governor’s Office, Virginia Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Virginia Department of Education. Fluvanna County Public Schools is planning for a return to in-person learning five days a week for all PreK-12 students beginning August 11, 2021. Our instructional staff will focus on the design and delivery of engaging, in-person instructional experiences that will mirror our instructional approach prior to the pandemic.
We recognize and respect that some families may still be interested in a virtual learning option for the next school year. Fluvanna County Public Schools will be partnering with Virtual Virginia to provide a virtual learning option for the 2021-2022 school year. There will be no virtual learning option for preschool students. Virtual Virginia is a program of the Virginia Department of Education and serves students in grades K-12 throughout the state of Virginia who wish to participate in a full-time virtual program. Families who completed the survey requesting a virtual option will be provided with more details about the program, as well as an application to be considered for the program.
Section 2: Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
ARP Act ESSER III funds may be used to implement prevention and mitigation strategies that are, to the greatest extent practicable, consistent with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on reopening schools, in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning. Fluvanna County Public Schools will use approximately $42,000 of its ARP Act ESSER III funds to support prevention and mitigation strategies. ESSER III funds will be used to purchase sanitizing wipes and gel, disinfecting sprays/solutions, disposable gloves, and masks. Additionally, $54,000 of ESSER II funds have been allocated to support increased daily cleaning and sanitation in our schools and school buses to support a safe environment with best health mitigation practices. Additional core classroom positions to support physical distancing in classrooms as we return to 5 days a week of in-person instruction for all students will also be hired using ESSER III and ESSER II funds.
Section 3: Addressing Unfinished Learning
Section 2001(e)(1) of the ARP Act requires each school division to use twenty percent of its formula funds to address the academic impact of lost instructional time (learning loss) through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Fluvanna County Public Schools will use approximately $2,596,000 of its ARP Act ESSER III funds to address unfinished learning as described below:
Fluvanna County Public Schools recognizes the impact of classroom teachers on student success. To support and increase our teachers’ ability to effectively address the social and emotional needs of students, assess for learning loss and plan and deliver individualized instruction to close achievement gaps, Fluvanna County Public Schools will use ESSER III grant funds to hire additional core content teachers to lower class sizes and increase face to face instruction to five days per week for all students. Grants funds will also be used to support stipends for teachers to provide after school targeted remediation, extension and enrichment opportunities for students, as well as to provide teaching stipends for a summer school program focused on recovery of learning loss during COVID.
Additionally, ESSER II funds will also be used to support the salaries and benefits of additional staffing to address COVID related learning needs. Two additional Reading Specialist positions, along with one additional Math Specialist position, will provide direct services to students, support teachers in the classroom, and provide schoolwide professional development to address learning loss among students. An additional Instructional Technology Resource Teacher will also be hired to support an increased teacher and student need in the area of educational technology.
Section 4: Other Uses of Funds
Section 2001(e) of the ARP Act permits school divisions to use the ARP Act ESSER III funding not reserved to address unfinished learning to address the impacts of COVID-19 in a variety of ways. Fluvanna County Public Schools will use approximately $81,000 of its ARP Act ESSER III funds in accordance with Section 2001(e) of the ARP Act as described below.
Fluvanna County Public Schools strongly believes the best educational opportunity is provided to our students through an in-person environment. We recognize and respect that some families may still be interested in a virtual learning option for the next school year. Fluvanna County Public Schools will use grant funds to procure Virtual Virginia seats for students still in need of a virtual option. This will alleviate the need to have “blended” teachers, and allow our teachers to focus on in-person and small group instruction.
Section 5: Addressing Students’ Academic, Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs
To support and increase our teachers’ ability to effectively address the social and emotional needs of students, assess for learning loss and plan and deliver individualized instruction to close achievement gaps, Fluvanna County Public Schools will use ESSER III grant funds to hire additional core content teachers to lower class sizes.
The position of Student Support Specialist, funded with ESSER II funds, will support students and families, including low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care by locating community resources for the purpose of promoting parent effectiveness and student achievement. They will assist with the organization and implementation of events and activities for the purpose of enhancing parent involvement. They will convey parents’ questions and concerns to appropriate school/district staff for the purpose of supporting student success and further facilitating communications with parents. They will conduct quarterly meetings at schools and with community partnerships, conduct home visits, collect support information from parents in an effort to meet the educational objectives, and collaborate with other personnel to identify issues and concerns and work towards solutions.
Section 6: Consultation with Stakeholders and Opportunity for Public Comment
In developing the ARP ESSER Plan, Fluvanna County Public Schools sought public input and took such input into account. Staff and parent input was collected through surveys, Superintendent Staff Advisory meetings, Superintendent Parent Advisory committee meetings, public comment opportunities at advertised school board meetings, and individual communications received at the school and division planning levels. Stakeholder representation for the interests of children with disabilities, English learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, migratory students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students were included in the development of Fluvanna County Public School’s ARP ESSER III plan.
Section 7: Making the Plan Available to the Public
Fluvanna County Public Schools has taken the following steps to make this plan available to the public:
- The plan was sent to parents via our school messenger system.
- The plan is posted at www.fluco.org
- The plan was included in the June School Board meeting packet and opportunity for public comment on the plan was provided.
- The plan is available in multiple languages through use of our translation service, Language Line, and in Spanish through our Family Engagement Liaison. For translation of this plan, please contact Jocelyn Stevens at jstevens@apps.fluco.org or 434-981-4910. Si usted necesita ayuda con la traducción de este documento, favor de llamar o textear a Jocelyn Stevens a (434) 981-4910; o se puede poner en contacto con ella a jstevens@apps.fluco.org. Nos alegra poder brindarle servicios de interpretación o traducción a su familia.
- Upon request, a parent who is an individual with a disability as defined by the ADA may be provided with the plan in an alternative format accessible by contacting Jen Valentine, Director of Special Education at jvalentine@apps.fluco.org or 434-589-8208.
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