Please Help Us Spend Your Money

According to an announcement sent out by the Franklin Public Schools, through the American Rescue Plan, "Franklin Public School District was granted $1,046,173 in ESSER III funds to be spent through June 2024." These funds will be disbursed via a multi-year plan with the goal of supporting district response during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Franklin Public School system isnow  seeking input from community stakeholders as a part of the planning process. The survey will close on Wednesday, September 15th at 4pm.

According to the US Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Congress set aside approximately $13.2 billion of the $30.75 billion allotted to the Education Stabilization Fund through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). Department awarded these grants ­to State educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the Nation.

ESSER Fund awards to SEAs are in the same proportion as each State received funds under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

According to the announcement from the Franklin Public Schools the survey was created “to inform each stakeholder group of anticipated district priorities and to collect feedback around anticipated activities involving these funds.” Community Stakeholders refers to students, parents/ guardians, FPS employees, Franklin residents, groups representing the interests of school children, and more. Community Stakeholder input is encouraged and accessible through this survey, which can be accessed via the link below.

After filling out the survey, citizen without children in the school remarked, “The questions don’t seem to address the real issues about learning that I hear parent’s talking about.” That may be. Certainly, there is education industry jargon aplenty. And that may be because even though ESSER III money can be used for a variety of purposes, including addressing learning loss, preparing schools for reopening, and testing, repairing, and upgrading projects to improve air quality in school building, there are many, many terms and conditions.

To access the survey, use this link. And remember, responses must be in by Wednesday.