Haxtun BOE hears possibilities for use of ESSER funds

Utilizing ESSER funds to purchase two new busses was one of many highlights of Superintendent Marsha Cody’s report during the regular September Haxtun Board of Education meeting. In addition to busses, board members and administration also talked about changes to graduation requirements and the possibility of refinancing district loans for lower interest rates in the late-September meeting.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed three stimulus bills that include funding for education: the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan.

With the initial round of CARES Act funds, Haxtun Schools receive $25,634. Those funds were used for interactive white boards for each classroom as well as other technology expenses.

The second round of funds, ESSER II, Haxtun School District received $149,055. So far, a portion of those funds have been used for a 12 passenger bus, cleaning equipment including new vacuums, a new carpet shampooer and floor scrubber as well as wages and benefits for custodial staff throughout the summer.

Another portion of the second rounds of ESSER funds could also help purchase additional busses, Cody told board members at the latest meeting.

Recently, the District has seen several issues with busses, including one on Interstate 76 while the high school volleyball team traveled for a weekend tournament. Safety, Cody said, the major reason for the need of new busses for the District.

ESSER III funds are also available to the District now, totaling nearly $334,000. Of that total, 20 percent must be utilized for learning loss and education however, Cody said a large portion could also be used to purchase a second new bus that would be used for both daily routes and for activities. Expenditures for ESSER III funds are allowed through Sept. 30, 2024.

Thus far, ESSER III funds have been ear marked for instructional use through learning loss teacher salary and benefits as well as student mental health support through counselor benefits and salary.

The District has also pledged nearly $20,000 in programs and systems for credit recovery and support for students in addition to computer software to support ICAP and post-secondary plans and opportunities.

Cody proposed to also use $140,000 of ESSER III funds for a large, brand new 65-passenger bus from International that the District desperately needs.

Cody said currently Haxtun Schools has two busses that are not reliable or have low power that will need to be retired at the end of the year. The cost to keep them, she said, far out weights the use the District gets out of them.

Yearly the Haxtun School District pays $1,600 per bus for annual inspections plus money in repairs to get the busses to pass inspections as well as insurance.

The new activity/bus route would hold 65 passengers, has air conditioning, max under storage, LED lights and a pre-heater. It would be ready for the 2022-23 school year.

The second bus Cody suggested to purchase, with funds from ESSER II, would be a 14 passenger, yellow mini bus that would be used for daily routes. The cost of the small bus, brand new, is $63,000, and it would also be ready by next school year.

Cody asked board members to review packets of information on the two busses and take action during an October meeting. She said ESSER funds are one time dollars with a long-time benefit in purchasing a bus. “We have been struggling with busses for a long time,” Cody said.

Throughout the September meeting, board members and administration continued to review changes to the District’s graduation requirement policy. Some notable changes including changing a lowest passing grade from a D, as it stands now, to a C as well as utilizing a weighted grading scale for concurrent enrollment and college classes.

Changes also include combining two current policies into one, clear and concise policy students, staff and parents can all read and understand.

In proposing the change in a passing grade from a D to a C, Principal Dustin Seger said he never wants to set the bar too low for students and in fact, would like to set the bar high and hold students to a higher level of standards. Seger said Holyoke follows a model that does not include a D or F grade and he used some information form the neighboring school in implementing the change in Haxtun’s new proposed graduation requirement policy.

Board member Tamara Durbin said while she sees the need to hold students to a higher expectation, she also would like to be diligent in the process to maintain the District’s high graduation rates.

“I am all for high expectations, but not at compromising graduation rates,” she said.

The graduation policy will be up for a second reading during the regular, October meeting.

In other business:

• District Bookkeeper Lynda Firme talked briefly about refinancing District loans to lower interest rates and possibly shorten terms of the loans. Firme said lower rates could save the District about $2,000 per year in interest and several years off the term of the loan. She is currently working with Points West Community Bank and will bring additional information to the board in upcoming meetings;

• Board members voted to name Seger the District Election Official in light of Mimi Weaver’s retirement;

• The Board approved the extra duty salary schedule, which reflects an increase in pay for certified substitute teachers;

• The BOE approving hiring Kaitlin Hiller as the new high school secretary/administrative assistant. Hiller replaces Weaver, who’s last day was Sept. 29. A retirement reception will be held for Weaver on Oct. 7 from 4-6 p.m. at the Haxtun Community Center.