Summer School And Tutoring Highlight Pickett Schools ESSER Spending

The Pickett County Board of Education has approved its third round of COVID relief funding with the main focus on learning loss.

Director of Schools Diane Elder said a portion of the $1.3 million will give the high school three years of summer school and tutoring services.

“Students will be chosen according to the amount of learning loss and referred to the tutoring program,” Elder said. “We don’t have all the guidelines set up. That would be done be administration.”

Elder said the district looks to use a combination of current and retired teachers to facilitate both programs. Elder said a time line for implementation is unknown as the Pickett Schools spending plan needs Federal approval.

Elder said another focus would be technology. Elder said the school system plans to purchase Google classroom gear just in case a grade or classroom moves to virtual learning. Elder said the expenditures also include I-Pads for teachers.

“It’s for the students that we might have to send, let’s say 3rd grade, home.” Elder said. “They would be able to use Google Docs and have a virtual classroom there.”

Some spending will come to personnel. According to Elder, two teacher salaries and a new special education assistant position will be paid for. Elder said this will save the school money in the general purpose fund in case BEP funding does not increase next school year.

Other transactions include $140,000 for math textbooks, a software to provide a Spanish translation for online documents, PPE gear, programs for support services and wireless mics for the High School drama club.