July 19, 2021 – The Amarillo ISD School Board started their July 19 meeting with a presentation and public hearing on the District’s ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Use of Funds Plan and the Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, both of which are required by the state to describe plans for returning to school and for spending financial support from the government to address the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Superintendent Doug Loomis and Deputy Superintendent Kevin Phillips described the broad base of input the District received regarding how to spend AISD’s expected allocation of $72.7 million in ESSER III funds over the next three years. The four spending priorities that rose to the top include student learning loss, mental health interventions and support, professional development and retention incentives. Mr. Loomis said he estimates as many as one-third, or 10,000, AISD students are behind a grade level due to the impacts of the pandemic. Individual campuses will be allocated a share of the District’s ESSER funds based on their at-risk student population, and will be able to tailor expenditures according to what their students need - on things such as intervention programs, instructional resources, professional development, extra one-on-one and small-group tutoring, and additional staff.
In addition to the ESSER Use of Funds plan, the District also must submit a return to school plan. Human Resources Executive Director Chris Tatum said, as of right now, masks will not be required in AISD schools this school year and all AISD students will return to in-person instruction. For more information about AISD’s return to school plan and ESSER spending plan, click on the ESSER button at the top of AISD’s website, www.amaisd.org
The Board approved a retention incentive that will use about $10 million of AISD’s expected ESSER funding to provide an extra stipend over and above salaries for employees who work directly with students in the classroom. Over the next three years, the stipends will total $4,000 for each AISD teacher and $2,000 for instructional assistants and substitutes who work at least 100 days in a school year. The Board also approved an increase in the hourly rate for tutoring students who’ve experience learning loss due to COVID. The ESSER tutoring rate will be $50 per hour instead of the regular $30 per hour rate.
In other business, the Board hired Sims + Architects architect for the project to remodel the former Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning campus to accommodate programs from North Heights Alternative School. AACAL will be incorporated into the new AmTech Career Academy with the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The AACAL building will undergo minor renovations to house North Heights, and eventually, plans are to convert the former North Heights campus into an early childhood center for AISD.
The Board hired Corgan architect and design firm to conduct a districtwide comprehensive facilities study for a master facilities plan for the District. Trustees also set Monday, August 23, at 8:00 a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing regarding a petition for detachment and annexation of land from Bushland ISD to Amarillo ISD.
Board members thanked those who gave donations to AISD and its schools this month. A total of $3,594.20 worth of gifts was given - to Palo Duro High School from the Martinez family and to Bonham Middle School from the Bonham Music Association.
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