Broken Arrow Public Schools to receive $4.3 million from State Department of Education
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBroken Arrow Public Schools received good news this week as the Oklahoma State Department of Education allocated $4.3 million in federal relief dollars under the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER) II fund. The funds are part of the $49 million ESSER II set-aside funds from the OSDE. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister announced that 87 other Oklahoma school districts also received the relief dollars.
“This news comes as a welcome breath of fresh air for Broken Arrow,” said BAPS Chief Financial Officer Natalie Eneff. “Superintendent Dr. Janet Vinson has been working tirelessly with local and state leaders to show them the inequities that existed from the original allotment, creating an open conversation about the effects the pandemic has had on our district and other districts.”
Broken Arrow had previously received funds under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriates (CRRSA) Act late in 2020, but those funds were less than $550 per student. Those funds were distributed based on Title I numbers from fiscal year 2020, leaving some districts with limited relief amidst significant COVID-19 response expenses over the last academic year.
“These recipients had received the least amount of federal aid but, like all public school districts throughout our state, are struggling with financial burdens exacerbated by the pandemic,” Hofmeister said.
Broken Arrow schools announced in January of a mid-term budget adjustment of nearly $7.4 million in cuts, or roughly $200.61 per student. This new allocation will help ease the burden of that drastic reduction.
“We are so grateful to Superintendent Hofmeister and the State Department of Education for seeing the need amongst our students and staff,” said Eneff. “COVID-19 has impacted the classroom in ways we never imagined, but our Leadership Team and Board of Education has proven we can persevere with a united front and unending support from the community.”
Allowable use of the dollars includes preventing, preparing for and responding to COVID-19, as well as mitigating learning loss and restoring high-quality learning environments. A full breakdown of funds provided to Broken Arrow and the other districts can be found here.