FAIRFIELD — Schools in the Fairfield area will receive $6.3 million in federal pandemic relief aid and a portion of that will be used to assist students directly, such as by helping them earn the credits they need to graduate.
Maine School Administrative District 49 Superintendent Roberta Hersom told the school board Thursday that 20% of the federal money must be spent on learning recovery and helping students affected by the pandemic, an amount that comes out to about $1.3 million.
The district has until September 2024 to spend the money and must submit an application outlining a spending plan by the end of the month, although it is understood that the plan can be adjusted over time, Hersom said.
“It is required that we submit that at that time but with the understanding that the substance is fluid and we are able to continually update the application,” she said.
Of that money reserved for students, the district has proposed spending just under 30% on helping students recover credits they may not have completed last year — with a focus on high school students getting the credits required to graduate on time.
The district also plans to spend some money on tutoring, which will include purchasing software to assist. Officials also plan to offer enrichment programming, extended day and summer programming, technology integration support, and mental health support.
Administrators intend to add a couple of new positions, including a dean of students who would work with guidance counselors to help students catch up and graduate, while also organizing things like career fairs to get students thinking of life after school.
There have also been discussions about offering after-school programs for students in elementary school, and part of that would be to provide additional transportation options.
With the additional money, a large portion would go toward improving air quality in the schools. Several buildings in the district are older and do not have any sort of mechanical ventilation system in place. Where there is mechanical ventilation, those systems will be upgraded.
Administrators are also hoping to add ventilation systems to the cafeteria and athletic training rooms at Lawrence High School.
Some funding will be used for repairs that were delayed because of the pandemic. That will include upgrading bathrooms, replacing windows, removing carpet and upgrading the high school cafeteria and outdoor dining space.
“What we are trying to address are deferred maintenance projects that have come to the point where we have this opportunity to not use money from our local fund,” Hersom said.
The district is also looking into developing some sort of educational outdoor space to be used by teachers, Hersom said.
“It is also something that, if we can point to something that everyone can appreciate and utilize for years down the road, that is money well spent in service to our community,” she said.
Residents were asked to provide feedback on the district’s plan but there were no public comments at Thursday’s meeting.
In other matters, the board approved a policy for COVID-related staff leave. The policy outlines leave for those who become sick, as well as quarantining if they are a close contact with a positive case and if a staff member’s child care falls through.
“I believe we still need to have these provisions in place,” Hersom said.
The board also voted to reelect Danielle Boutin as chairman of the panel and Terry Knowles as vice chairman.
In addition to Fairfield, MSAD 49 covers Albion, Benton and Clinton.
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