Pandemic Relief Funds
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The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) has received federal, state, and county resources to help us respond to the COVID pandemic. The district received one-time funding from the State COVID-19 Supplemental Funds, Wake County Government, Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act (ESSER), and the American Recovery Plan (ARP).
Current funding for WCPSS totals $431.4 million and spans the 2021-2024 school years. As of February 28, 2022, $179.4 million has been spent. Another $75.5 million is planned to be spent between March 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022. A projected $176.5 million will be available for the two years of remaining funding.
Below is a summary of the actual and projected pandemic relief spending through June 30, 2022. Additional information can be found on the N.C. Department of Public Instruction website.
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Minimize the Transmission of Virus/PPE Supplies - $24.5 million
Funded purchase of Personal Protection Equipment including masks, hand sanitizer and gloves, as well as disinfecting products and services.
Expenditure to Date: $18.3M
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $6.2 million -
Child Nutrition - $13.4 million
Funded community distribution of more than 5 million meals and supported Child Nutrition Services during period of no meal sales.
Expenditure to Date: $12.4 million
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $1 million -
Educational Technology - $28.8 million
The Technology Services Division deployed over 130,000 devices using ESSER and Capital Improvement funds, along with the development of remote learning materials.
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Virtual Academy Support - $15.7 million
Funded salaries of teachers, assistant principals and clerical staff who supported Virtual Academy during the 2021-22 school year, and paid for implementation of N.C. Virtual Public School.
Expenditure to Date: $9.7M
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $6 million -
Additional Instructional Support - $30.1 million
Hired additional Instructional Support Technicians, who help students and parents effectively use technology, and Intervention Teachers who provide additional instruction to students who require supplemental support following the pandemic.
Other funding used for Digital Learning Resources, including Dreambox, iReady, Quaver Music, Instructure Canvas and Mackin Educational.
Expenditure to Date: $20M
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $10.1 million -
Summer Learning - $32.7 million
More than 15,000 students received in-person instruction in core subjects, in addition to enrichment activities such as art and music. Funding was used to pay personnel, including teachers, bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
Expenditure to Date: $32.5 million
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $145,000 -
Mental Health Services - $13.5 million
Provided funding for nurses, social workers, counselors and psychologists, as well as a variety of social-emotional learning sessions offered to families.
Expenditure to Date: $10.1 million
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $3.4 million -
Staff Retention & Recognition Bonuses - $64.7 million
Funded bonuses to help recruit and retain employees, as the pandemic fundamentally changed the job market.
- Bus drivers: $1,200 signing bonus, plus $400 after three months of employment and $800 after one year of employment.
- Special Education teachers: - $3,500 signing bonus, plus $1,750 after three months of employment and $1,750 in November 2022.
- Child Nutrition staff: Up to $1,350 retention bonus, payable June 2022
- All employees: three retention & recognition bonuses of $1,250 each, payable in January, May, and November of 2022
Expenditure to Date: $38.2M
Planned Expenditures through June 30, 2022: $26.5 million -
Addressing Needs of Special Populations - $4.3 million
CARES, ESSER, and ARP state and federal funds were allocated to address the needs of special education students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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Providing Principals with Resources - $3.7 million
193 schools received one additional Assistant Principal month of employment.
193 schools received one full-time Permanent Building Substitute.
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Other ESSER-Eligible Activities - $23.6 million
- Funds to maintain district operations to support building maintenance and utilities
- Position costs to directly support the fiscal compliance and monitoring of ESSER/ARP funds
- Indirect costs
Feedback on federal funds spending
Spending will be evaluated each year to ensure alignment with current needs. Feedback on this process can be provided through:
- The annual budgeting process
- Federal Programs team
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Pandemic Relief board presentations
- March 15, 2022
- Nov. 16, 2021 (begin Page 14)
- Oct. 19, 2021
- March 16, 2021
- Nov. 10, 2020
- Sept. 15, 2020
- May 5, 2020 (begin Page 10)