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District outlines grant funding, ESSER wind‑down and Innovative School Models spending on CTE
Summary
Finance staff reviewed restricted grant funding—including ESSER and the state’s Innovative School Models grant—how the grants were used for career and technical education investments, and the timing for remaining spend-downs.
District staff told the finance committee that several large, restricted grants account for year‑to‑year swings in total revenue and explained how the Innovative School Models grant and ESSER funding were spent.
Mary Ellen said the district’s state grant totals include pre‑K and several sizable awards such as the Innovate School Models grant. “In this 24,000,000, 17 million was for the innovative school model,” she said, adding that the state award was structured as a four‑year grant and the remaining funds will roll into the current and next fiscal year depending on project timing.
Participants described how Innovative School Models money was used to expand career and technical education (CTE) options at individual schools and to fund equipment and program start‑ups; the presenters said principals had discretion to apply funds within guardrails to ensure sustainability after the grant ended. One example discussed was investments in recording studios and other “future‑ready” equipment at several schools to create new CTE pathways.
Staff also said ESSER funds—federal pandemic relief used for one‑time investments—are now largely spent down, with a small tail carried into the current year for late purchase orders and charter allocations. The committee was reminded that federal grants are typically reimbursement‑based and that grant timing, restrictions and required carryover explain large changes in annual totals.
The administration said grant managers will continue to track rollovers and to identify where program positions funded by grants will need local support once grants expire.
