With federal stimulus money coming to an end, School District of Lee County staff is looking into how to transition the little more than 300 employee positions that are funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III funds.

Grants Program Administrator Leta Dietz Smith said this week the district is working on solidifying plans for the transition of 302 current employees.

ESSER III funds will close on Sept. 30, 2024, which includes all emergency relief-funded positions ending in June 2023 on district contracts, all of whom have been notified through a letter.

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said the district is making plans for the continuation of positions.

“The individuals who are ESSER funded have been notified the positions are set to sunset,” he said, adding that shortly after the holidays they will convene as a cabinet to begin the conversations around the budget — what the strategic plan wants staff to accomplish and align with expenditures.

Bernier said the focus is to bring forward some understanding of what the district can afford and continue to support students, especially around the needs of mental health.

The district received ESSER I, II and III funds, which were federal stimulus funds received by the Department of Education following COVID.

ESSER I, which is 100% expended, was in the amount of $21,837,924, and was used for triage — personal protective equipment, online curriculum, hot spots and such support personnel as counselors, nurses and social workers.

ESSER II, $84,144,216, 99% expended for stability. This addressed COVID- related health insurance costs, online curriculum, hot spots, tutoring and summer programs, professional development, stabilization pay, class coverage and personnel for teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, nurses and social workers.

The final funds, ESSER III, is 59% expended at $189,170,730 for path forward. This addresses online curriculum, tutoring and summer programs, professional development, stabilization pay, class coverage, instructional materials and personnel for teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, nurses and social workers.

Smith said the top expenditures includes stabilization pay with $68 million; class coverage with $38 million; school positions with $27 million; charter school allocations for $23 million; technology for $15 million; COVID health insurance for $14 million; summer programming for $13 million, Personal Protective Equipment for $9 million; mental health supports for $8 million and tutoring for $6 million.

Last year alone there were 51,532 instances of class coverage during the 2022-2023 school year. In addition, there were 6,607 instances where certified teachers earned an additional $1,000 for covering 15 times.

Some of the highlighted projects funded through ESSER dollars include Close Up Student Ridership, Scholastic Projects, Jump Start Kindergarten Readiness and Summer Sizzlin’ Series.

Smith said the Close Up project allows 160 high school English Language Learner students to travel to Tallahassee to research issues facing their neighborhood. Those students will learn about the state and federal government, tour the capital, meet officials and provide professional development for educators.

Student Ridership, another ESSER- funded project, allows parents to view their children boarding and disembarking their school bus.

The Scholastic Project provided books for elementary students to take home both during the summer and winter breaks. There were also books provided to classroom libraries, and new students enrolling into the district.

The Jump Start Kindergarten Readiness took place at 24 schools and 739 teachers attended the Summer Sizzlin’ Series.