West Carroll School Board Approves ESSER Fund Spending

ATWOOD (November 7) — The West Carroll School Board met Thursday with all members of the board present.

During the meeting, board members approved the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to purchase 400 new folding chairs from JC Educational and Office Supplies out of Paris. These chairs will be used for graduation to replace the rented chairs that have been used for the past several years. The purchase also includes dollies to store the chairs when not being used.

ESSER is a federally-funded relief program to help with the learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline to spend these funds is January 25, 2025.

The board also approved the purchase of 250 composite desks and chairs for the junior/senior high school from the same company.

JC Educational and Office supply was recommended by Mark Wright due to previous experience working with the company. They are local, and they have previously demonstrated excellent customer service when they supplied a previous order of desks and chairs for West Carroll Schools earlier this year.

The remainder of the ESSER money will be spent on new Chromebooks. These will be supplied by Howard, and the number of computers ordered will be determined by the remaining amount of ESSER funds.

The board also heard updates to the school renovation project that has been in progress for the last several months. Mr. Wright explained that they are waiting on the architect to finish up plans, and then they could begin the window and door install at the primary and elementary schools.

The board reviewed the Five Year Strategy Plan and discussed the steps taken to place the plan into action.

Director of Schools Preston Caldwell went through the steps for the five-year plan. This plan has been worked on for the past couple years.

“The mission of West Carroll Special School district is to provide a safe and effective learning environment, which involves a dedicated facility and staff that work together as a team,” Caldwell explained. “Teaching the whole child, ensuring students have access to continued learning and become productive members of society.”

The board was also shown a new CTE Spirit vending machine, which will allow CTE students to design and create spirit items to sell in the machine that will be located in the lobby outside of the gym at the junior/senior high School. This will allow students, staff and guests to purchase West Carroll spirit gear that was designed and manufactured by West Carroll students.