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Department of Education outlines ESSER/ARP rules and $92M in prior-approved facility projects
Summary
Tim Cain told the committee ESSER/ARP expenditures must prevent, prepare for or respond to COVID-19 and meet four federal tests; as of Aug. 25 the department granted prior approval to 248 facility projects (~$92 million) and 435 bus purchases (~$46.6 million), with HVAC work the most common facilities request.
Tim Cain, director of academic facilities and transportation at the Department of Education, briefed the committee on allowable uses and the department's prior-approval process for ESSER/ARP funds.
Cain said every facility project and bus purchase requiring ESSER funds must satisfy four federal requirements: it must prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19; be reasonable; be necessary; and be an allowable expense under federal guidance. "The expenditure must prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID 19," Cain said.
Cain said the department also requires prior approval for facility projects and bus purchases and reviews applications for compliance with the four federal tests. He reported that as of Aug. 25 the department had given prior approval to 248 facility projects at an estimated cost of over $92,000,000 and to 435 bus purchases at an estimated cost of over $46,600,000. Cain said HVAC projects account for the largest share of facility approvals by count and dollar value.
Members pressed for specifics about categories on Cain's slides. Cain clarified that "floors" refers to replacing carpet with epoxy or tile that's easier to clean; "additional space" projects are undertaken to enable social distancing; and HVAC requests are typically system replacements or upgrades. He also listed less-common allowable purchases such as touchless faucets and, where justified, contact-tracing cameras.
On roof replacements, Cain said the US Department of Education recently (last week) authorized roof work as an allowable ESSER use under narrow conditions: the applicant must show the roof contributes to inferior air quality (for example, mold) and that costs are reasonable and necessary. Such projects will require prior approval and the department said it will require third-party evidence for mold-related claims.
A committee member asked for a district-by-district breakdown of the 248 projects and the department agreed to supply the requested list to committee staff.
