Rabun County Schools seeks Public Input on ARP Act

The Rabun County School District is seeking public input for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, the third COVID-19 relief bill, during the regular monthly board of education meeting on October 26, 2023. The American Rescue Plan (ARP)Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to speed up the United States recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. ​ARP ESSER funds will allow SEAs to take additional steps to safely reopen schools for in-person instruction and keep them open, and to address the disruptions to teaching and learning resulting from the pandemic. This includes using funds to enact appropriate measures to help schools to invest in mitigation strategies consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools to the greatest extent practicable; address the many impacts of COVID-19 on students, including from interrupted instruction; implement strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs; offer crucial summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs; support early childhood education; invest in staff capacity; and avoid devastating layoffs at this critical moment, ensuring that all students have access to teachers, counselors, and other school personnel to support their needs. As a part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act ESSER III, Rabun County Schools received  $4,327,033.00 in federal funds. The school system is required to create a plan for spending the federal funds aligned to the allowable use of funds from the state and federal levels. All expenditures within the budget are subject to approval at the local and state levels. The tentative plans for the ARP/ESSER III are:

Additional certified staff to address learning loss in all students

Summer school and after school certified and classified staff and materials to address learning loss in all students

Substitute services to support classroom instruction

Instructional supplies

Computer and technology equipment

Additional counselor and speech therapist to support the needs of all students

Nursing supplies

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for students and staff

Additional transportation costs (including summer school and cleaning/sanitizing)

School nutrition equipment

Video cameras and safety response systems

If you are unable to attend but wish to provide input, call 706-212-4350.