CHARLOTTE, N.C – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill and the CMS leadership team are planning for the expiration of $190 million in ESSER funding which has supported the district during and after the Covid 19 pandemic.
On Monday, February 5, 2024, information will be shared with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education on how the loss of ESSER funding for CMS will impact the 2024-2025 budget. Approximately $60 million in ESSER funds is attached to people and the district is looking for ways not to reduce its workforce once the funding is gone.
“We may have to realign roles and responsibilities of some staff. We value the contributions of our employees and want to keep everyone employed,” stated Dr. Hill.
ESSER was intended to assist eligible public school units to address needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic, including making up for learning loss. This influx of funding was intended to help with a variety of projects including:
- Lowering class size to allow students to safely distance themselves
- Adjusting transportation to reduce the number of students in one confined space
- Purchasing sanitation and cleaning supplies for the district
- Making improvement to indoor air quality
The loss of ESSER funding will have a significant impact on the district. However, the goal is to minimize its effect on students and staff through efforts to stabilize and standardize — reviewing management routines and service delivery models to schools.
As the planning continues, district leaders will rely on stakeholder input and keep the lines of communication open during this time of change. The budget tutorial reviewed by the Board during the retreat will be used to prepare for a Budget Workshop on Feb. 5.
