Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief

The purpose of these funds was to provide our school district with resources to help sustain our operations during an economic recovery. Twenty percent of the American Rescue Plan Act funds must be used to address student learning loss. The remainder of the funds are flexible. 

Bulloch County Schools is using the funds strategically to sustain our school district's financial stability during uncertain economic conditions and to prioritize recovery from the learning crisis that developed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school district is using the funds to support at-risk student populations, our distance learning and Virtual Learning programs, school meals,  mental and physical health, supplemental learning, facilities and equipment, continuity of core staff and services, and more.

During the Board of Education's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget process, the school district provided the Board and the public details about how funds were used in Fiscal Year 2021, how they would be used in Fiscal Year 2022, and how they would be used through 2024. 

• Bulloch County Schools submitted an Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief III Application to the Georgia Department of Education
  • As the local education agency, we identified the required two to three priorities that were most pressing for students and schools and identified the data sources to support these priorities 
    • Priorities: learning loss and continuity of services 
      • Utilize American Rescue Plan Act set aside funds to intentionally address learning loss
    • Data Sources: iReady, Georgia Milestones Assessment System, Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State, discipline data, graduation rates, Engage2Learn professional learning and faculty coaching data  
• Use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act and Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations funds to do the following:
  • Utilize American Rescue Plan Act funds to continue to offset state funding cuts and strengthen the district's financial position
    • Structure the use of the federal funds with state and local funds to maximize flexibility
    • Offset the school district's deficit budget due to state funding cuts and increased operational costs associated with the pandemic
    • Utilize funds to increase the school district's general fund balance to sustain the district through the next three to four years while we address learning gaps and navigate uncertain economic conditions
    • Budget funds in order to sustain these efforts over the long-term for up to four years while we address learning gaps and navigate uncertain economic conditions so that the district does not have to prematurely halt needed student support efforts

• Addressing Learning Loss (required 20% of American Rescue Plan Funds)
  • Summer Learning Academies
    • 100+ Bulloch County Schools employees (teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, bus drivers)
    • 700+ students from enrolled from grades Kindergarten through eighth grade
      • Six schools: three elementary schools and three middle schools
      • Instructional focus on the key English language arts and math standards for the next grade level
      • Use climate coaches - Salary and benefits for five behavior Interventionist
      • Instructional Coaches - Salary and benefits for six curriculum and instructional leaders
      • Salary and benefits for 30 new teachers to reduce class sizes
      • Pre-Kindergarten Take-Home Literacy Backpacks
      • Goalbook Toolkits
      • Elementary intensive learning program's start-up funds: Learn Empower Adapt Pride
      • After school tutoring at Langston Chapel Middle School

• Salary and benefits to support:
  • Virtual Program (Teachers, Administrators and Registrar)
  • School Nurses
  • Clerical Staff
  • Paraprofessionals
  • School Improvement Specialists
  • Central Office Directors
  • Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Coordinator
  • Technology Specialists
  • $1,000 retention supplement for full-time employees (December, 2021)
• Two mobile units for Langston Chapel Elementary School to reduce overcrowding

For Fiscal Year 2024, Bulloch County Schools has $620,000 remaining in American Relief Plan funds.

• State approved for paying for the salary and benefits of five climate coaches
  • Climate coaches enable the district to provide support to schools who have students with significant behavior challenges, thus decreasing the number of disruptions to the learning environment and allowing principals to focus on being instructional leaders
  • Work of the Climate Coaches:
    • General classroom management strategies
    • Specific classroom behavior issues
    • Student concerns; individual student plans and interventions
    • Provide ongoing consultation, feedback, and support to teachers
    • Other school climate issues
    • Provide professional learning for schools