Local stakeholders can submit their views on needs Smithville ISD should address with federal funding from COVID-19 relief bills passed by the U.S. Congress.

In 2020 and 2021, Congress passed three stimulus bills that provide funding to the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief – or ESSER – Fund. States, including Texas, are now distributing portions of those funds to local education agencies such as Smithville ISD and other school districts. The American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021 provided supplemental funding known as ESSER III, and education agencies are in the process of determining how to spend that funding in meaningful, evidence-based manners.

As required by ESSER III grant guidelines, Smithville ISD is seeking stakeholder input to prepare to address the following needs of students and staff:

• The academic impact of lost instructional time.

• The district's response to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students.

• The district's response to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students disproportionately impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic. This includes students from low-income families, students of color, English learners, children with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, children in foster care and migratory students.

• Mitigating safety measures for safe operations of schools for in-person learning.

Community feedback in these four areas serves vital planning and preparation purposes as the district strives to meet the needs of its learning community. Smithville ISD is providing several options for the community to provide the needed feedback.

Community members attended public meetings to discuss the use of ESSER III funds in Smithville ISD:

• ESSER III

Option 1: May 18, 2023 @ 4pm in Central Administration-Media Lab

Option 2: July 17, 2023 @ 6pm in the Admin Auditorium

• Title I & Perkins

Option 1: July 18, 2022 @ 6pm in the Auditorium

Option 2: August 1, 2022 @ 9 am in the Media Lab

Summaries of the meetings are linked below.

ESSER III Public Meeting Summary & Survey Results Overview 

• Public Meeting 7-15-23 Summary

• Public Meeting 5-18-23 Summary

• Public Meeting 8-1-22 Summary

• Public Meeting 7-18-22 Summary

• Public Meeting 7-1-21 Summary

• Public Meeting 7-6-21 Summary

• Community Survey Open Response Question

• Public Input Powerpoint (2021-2024)

ESSER III Expenditure Plans

• ESSER III Expenditure Plan 2022-2023

• ESSER III Expenditure Plan 2021-2022

• ESSER III Grant Application 2021-2022

• ESSER III Expenditure Plan Updated 11-11-2021

• ESSER III Expenditure Plan Updated 11-11-2021 - Spanish

• ESSER III Notification - English

• ESSER III Notification - Spanish

Smithville ISD Return to Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan 2023-2024