Heights board hears about COVID funds

The Wisconsin Heights School District held its first public input meeting on the spending of Federal funds awarded due to the Coronavirus pandemic at their meeting last week. Between March of 2020 and 2021, Congress passed three stimulus bills that provided over $2.3 billion under the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief Fund to local educational agencies in Wisconsin. These funds provide emergency financial assistance to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools. Wisconsin Heights received three lump sums: $80,000; $317,000; and $715,000.  Districts are required to develop and make public a plan for safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services. This plan has been reviewed at past board meetings and is available at the District website. Districts are also required to develop and   make public a plan of COVID-19 funding allocation and spending. Although the funds were allocated by the Federal government on 2020, the District has until 2024 to spend most of the funds.  The district spent money on things like preparedness and response to COVID-19, addressing the past long-term school closure, as well as afterschool and summer learning. At the January 23 meeting, current Heights student Miah Murphy requested that Tyler Russell’s photo appear in the yearbook. Russell, a Wisconsin Heights student, took his own life last year. After consulting with the Department of Public Instruction and having discussions among the administrators, the District agreed to it. Wisconsin Heights is continuing to expand their mental health supports for students. They have recently entered into a partnership with the Psychotherapy Center of Waunakee (PCOW) where a therapist will be onsite to meet student’s therapy needs in person. Wisconsin heights School District Student Services staff are working with families immediately if they have questions or want to start the referral/intake process. The Wisconsin Heights contacts are Elementary School Counselor Kerri Martinez-Najera (608-767-2251; kmartineznajera@wisheights.k12.wi.us) and Middle school/high school Student Support/Mental Health Specialist, Debbie Schmidt, 608-767-2586; deschmidt@wisheights.k12.wi.us).