Over the last few years, the Dayton Public School District has received COVID-relief funds from the federal government. These funds, often referred to as “ESSER” funds (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) or “ARP” funds (American Rescue Plan), have been used to keep students and staff safe during the pandemic, and to help students catch up academically after a period of disrupted learning in 2020 and 2021. There were several rounds of funding for K12 schools, denoted by ESSER I, II or III.

To keep the community informed about the district’s ongoing use of COVID-relief funds, regular reports will be shared on the district’s website throughout the lifetime of the funds. ESSER I funds expired in September of 2022. ESSER II funds expired in September of 2023. ESSER III funds will expire in September of 2024. 

In February 2024, the district expended the following: 

ESSER III – $3,345,175

These funds went toward salaries and benefits for co-teachers, SROs, paraprofessionals, custodians, nurses, and bus drivers. Funds also went toward Greater Dayton RTA bus passes, and the items listed below:

LWC Incorporated and AKA Construction – Contracted design services for the renovation and addition to the Dayton Public Schools Transportation Center.

Firefighter Safe LLC – Purchase and installation of an AED cabinet.

Superior Cheer – warmup uniforms for Thurgood Marshall marching band. 

Unified Art & Education Inc. – Purchase of art supplies, including colored pencils, glue sticks, and markers, for Wogaman, Cleveland, and River’s Edge. 

Blick Art Materials – Purchase of art supplies, including modeling clay, drawing books, and weaving looms, for Valerie, Ponitz, and Wogaman. 

Hauer Music – Purchase of various items for the bands at Dunbar, Thurgood, International School, and Belmont.

Nasco Inc. – Purchase of art supplies, including a color wheel, markers, and paint, for Wogaman.

Cornell Studio Supply – Purchase of art supplies, including paint, kilns, and racks, for classrooms at Valerie, Ponitz, Stivers, and Roosevelt.

Taylor Music – The purchase of instruments, including flutes, clarinets, trumpets, mellophones, French horns, and others, for Dunbar.

Student Resiliency Coordinators & Student Behavioral Therapists (Dayton Children’s Hospital)

Student Resiliency Coordinators (SRCs) are in each school and manage long-term counseling needs for students. The SRC at each school helps determine what services a student needs, and then connects him or her to those services. The SRCs also set goals and monitor a student’s progress toward reaching those goals.

While SRCs focus on extended counseling needs, Student Behavioral Therapists focus on short-term counseling. There is one Student Behavioral Therapist for every two schools. 

Another COVID-relief spending update will be published next month. Read more about the district’s Recovery Plan here.