ROCK SPRINGS — The Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a motion to move forward in applying for grant money that could potentially bring $14.2 million to the District.
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund is part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help school districts navigate the financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of applying for that grant money requires districts to develop a Safe Return to In-person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan. The process began back in the summer of 2020 when SCSD No. 1 developed its Smart Start Task Force before the school year began.
The plan is broken into two parts: a safe return to in-person instruction, and consultation with stakeholders. The safe return portion looks at mitigating strategies for the District such as universal mask wearing, physical distancing, hand washing, and respiratory etiquette.
Consultation with stakeholders involves planning for the use of the ESSER funds with students, families,
school and district administrators (including special education administrators), teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and their unions, tribes, civil rights organizations (including disability rights organizations).
The planning talks will also include stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English learners, children experiencing homelessness, children and youth in foster care, migratory students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students.
“Why are we doing this now?” Superintendent Kelly McGovern told the Board tonight. “The answer is it meets a requirement for the grant. And I believe some of our districts in Wyoming, including Sweetwater One, know how to keep our schools open.”
The main idea here is that the process is open, and that anyone can do a submission whether its a proposal or just feedback .
SCSD No. 1 Superintendent Kelly McGovern
The District plans to conduct two public forums next Monday allowing the community to provide feedback on the use of the ARP ESSER funds. The first forum will take place at 7:15 a.m., and a second forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. later that evening.
Residents are invited to attend the meeting in person at the Central Administration Building Board Room, or the public can also attend virtually. People will be able to post suggestions and ideas on the event message board during the meeting.
