As COVID Money Comes To An End, Some Schools Seek Alternative Funding

Another hurdle for Panhandle area schools, the loss of COVID funds.

Some districts received ESSER funds during the pandemic, which is now coming to an end, leaving those districts to find alternative sources of funding.

Panhandle ISD received in the area of $60,000 to $70,000 which one administrator says was used to secure additional counselors and upgrade technology. 

There are some caveats to receiving government funding, including how it is used and when it is to be used by.

Sanford-Fritch ISD says it used the more than $700,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) money on safety and health improvements to campuses. They say they will need to re-evaluate what it has put in place to determine needs moving forward.

Districts are now having to come up with ways to maintain these items that they bought with COVID-related funds. Some School officials say they are having to look into their budgets and find items where they may be able to save and allocate that money towards the new services.