The status of Northern Lehigh School District’s e Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grants was reviewed at Monday’s school board meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tania Stoker discussed the grants as the district continues to spend them down through September 2024.

She said ESSER I funds in the amount of $324,575 have been completely spent down, and added that there was money given to the nonpublic institution which resides in the district.

Stoker said that paid for technology platforms, social distancing supplies, technology, and part of the bipolar ionization systems that were purchased.

She said ESSER II funds are in the amount of $1,463,002, and must be spent by September 2023, for which the district has spent $145,000, which leaves $1,318,002.

Of that, she said the district has encumbered $416,000, which leaves $902,002, for which the district has a list of potential items it may want to purchase for $871,000. She said remaining money that is undetermined for that grant is $31,002.

The district has spent ESSER II funds are Plexiglas; some of their PSSA supplies because it had to test students differently this year; the prom that was held; cafeteria supplies for social distancing while students were eating; and water it purchased for sports.

She said ESSER III funds are in the amount of $2,948,680, which may be spent through September 2024. To date, Stoker said they have spent $211,000 - $12,000 on supplies and $199,000 on learning loss.

“That’s important because we do have to spend $600,000 of that on learning loss or close to that,” Stoker said.

Stoker said that brings the subtotal to nearly $2.7 million, they have $88,000 encumbered, that remains at $2.6 million.

She said they have a spending list of potential items for about $2.1 million, bringing the remaining total that is undetermined at about half a million.

The district has spent ESSER III funds on the summer programs that they offered this past summer; its salaries for any of the employees that participated in the summer programs for their students; supplies, and programs and platforms that it used.

She said the district has some expenses such as headsets and playground equipment it’s looking to install at Peters Elementary.

Potential uses include new positions such as director of educational technology’s curriculum and instruction and five additional paraprofessionals (two at Peters, two at Slatington, one at the middle school) to help with interventions.

COVID Compensatory Services include help for special education students after the pandemic and some transportation for summer learning that may come for programs for three additional summers.

“So that’s some of the spending that we have to date, and where we’re looking to go for our ESSER grants,” Stoker said.