The Federal Government has established several sources of funding to offset the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in America's schools. You may hear these funds referred to as CARES and ESSER. The Creighton School District is eligible to receive a portion of these funds which can be utilized for health, safety, and sanitation costs. The funds can also be used to support enriched student learning, and professional development.
The Creighton School District established the Pandemic Relief Fund Prioritization Task Force to steer the investment of these funds. Ultimately, the goal is to prioritize the investment of these one-time relief funds to create significant, long-term benefits for the Creighton Community, in alignment with our strategic goals. The Task Force has created a initial draft of possible outcomes for these investments, including:
- An empowered community, eagerly taking on new challenges and learning
- Strong schools connecting with and developing families and neighbors
- All children being nurtured holistically in mind, body, and spirit
- All children reading fluently
- All educators inspiring learning using the best professional methods and highest quality materials
- Equitable systems district-wide
The Task Force is currently seeking input from across the Creighton Community, including students and parents, as well as site and department staff. Through the feedback gathering process so far, The Task Force has received approximately 300 individual ideas so far. There is a great deal of overlap among many of those ideas, and the Task Force has been organizing the ideas into the following categories:
- Adaptive Tools and Environment for Special Needs
- Enriched Learning During and After the School Day
- Expanded Remote Learning
- Family and Community Services
- Fiscal Management and Accountability
- Increased Compensation and Work Opportunities
- Instructional Materials
- Professional Development
- Reduced Student to Adult Rations to Intensify Learning
- Social Emotional Learning, Social Workers and Counselors
- Technology Tools and Equipment
Conversations to gather ideas for the Task Force are ongoing and many groups are planning to meet next week. If you have an idea that you would like to share, you can email it to ajackson@creightonschools.org, or submit it by phone to her at (602) 381-6018. You can also speak with your child's principal to share any ideas that you have.
