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Board approves multiple ARP/ESSER contract extensions and two special-education grants
Summary
Board approved a package of contract extensions and modifications funded with remaining ARP/ESSER funds and accepted two competitive special-education grants, including a literacy coach award to Simpson County; staff said they will seek late liquidation of ARPSR funds from the U.S. Department of Education to extend spending through 2026.
The Mississippi State Board of Education approved a package of vendor contract extensions and two competitive grants during its Sept. 17 meeting as department staff outlined how remaining ARP and ESSER funds will be used.
"We are requesting... a late liquidation for our ARPSR funds," Dr. Gavin said, explaining that, if approved by the U.S. Department of Education, that step would allow the department to obligate certain dollars through 2026. Dr. Gavin listed the contracts and modifications under consideration, saying the items would use remaining ARP/ESSER funds.
The contracts described in the meeting materials include services for non-public schools through a RESA; an extension or new emergency contract with Paper/Major Clarity to provide "high-dosage tutoring" for grades 3–12; a call-center services contract with Staffing Innovations; a modification and extension with the North Mississippi Education Consortium; a CyberSoft Technologies contract to operate an automated purchasing system in child nutrition; a 17-month extension with Randall Solutions to support the MECA teacher-licensure system; and a modified contract with GuideSoft to support OTSS operations. Department staff also described ongoing ARP/ESSER program administration and noted remaining unspent funds would be used to support these extensions.
The board approved action items 2a–2h (the set of contract actions) in a single motion by voice vote. Dr. Gavin also presented two competitive grants in the Office of Special Education: a literacy coach grant awarded to Simpson County and a second competitive grant that department materials list as going to multiple districts; the meeting transcript notes the district list is available in the board packet. The board approved those grants (items 3a and 3b) by voice vote.
The approvals were recorded in the meeting as voice votes; the transcript does not provide roll-call tallies for any of the contract or grant votes. Department staff advised that some contracts will be implemented using ESSER/ARP funds for an additional year and that vendor support will include classroom tutoring, licensure-system support and operational services for offices such as child nutrition.
