The Thompson School District is spending 42% of its federal CARES Act money on technology, 35% on training and the rest on cleaning, behavioral health and additional student support.

The school district in Loveland and Berthoud is receiving $7.9 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act to pay for expenses related to the pandemic through two separate funds, the Coronavirus Relief Fund and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

“We are well underway with the most critical needs,” Gordon Jones, chief financial officer, reported at a recent school board meeting.

The district broke the money into five different categories: academic achievement and related technology ($3.5 million); professional development ($2.8 million); safety, security and operations ($800,000); mental health services ($500,000); and system technology ($300,000) to prepare for the school year that starts Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with remote education for all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students through at least Oct. 16.

Technology

The largest portion of the money is earmarked for technology. Jones explained that just over $3 million will be spent on computers and tablets for students and staff members with another $300,000 spent to boost the district’s network system to enhance and improve remote learning capabilities.

The devices are on order, and the district also will be ordering items like chargers and cases for those computers and tablets. When they arrive, added to all the district technology already in place, all schools within the district will have one device for every student — a goal toward which it has been working.

Currently, 16 schools are at that level, known as ubiquitous technology access, and the new devices will boost the remaining 14 schools to the same level.

“That’ll be a big game changer to us,” said Matt Kuhn, chief technology officer.

Not only will all the schools have one device per student, but each school and grade level will have all the same type of device, so all the students will be on the same playing field and the teachers will know that every student will have a device that works with curriculum and needs for the class, Kuhn added.

So far, the district has ordered 3,650 Chromebooks and 2,200 iPads for students and another 550 computers for teachers.

When will the devices arrive? Kuhn said his best guess is within three months, but he doesn’t know for sure.

“The whole world is ordering technology right now,” said Kuhn. “It’s not just schools. We’re competing with businesses, community colleges, libraries. Everyone is ordering technology. Our vendors won’t even give us a date. They’re saying, we’ll let you know when the factories tell us.”

The system technology money, $300,000, went into improving district internet capabilities, so now all schools are at a level of 10 gigabits per second. The district had already laid the ground work over the past two years so it could easily add the new capability.

“We’re now a 10 gig district,” Kuhn said. “That’s a good level to be at.”

Professional development

The district has earmarked $2.8 million for four days of coronavirus specific training for all staff members, Jones said. This includes preparing teachers for how in-person and online school will work this year, training bus drivers and other transportation staff for changes and explaining new cleaning rules and procedures to custodial staff. There will be different aspects of work for every employee across all departments, and this will cover training for all, according to Jones.

Cleaning and more

The district is spending $800,000 of the federal money on the “safety, security and operations” category, which ranges from hand sanitizer to air circulation enhancements. This pot of money also is paying for contract cleaning services, Plexiglass partitions, masks, gloves, face shields, cleaning supplies and cleaning equipment, according to Jones.

Mental health services

From the federal money, $500,000 will be spent on staff and resources to help students as they navigate these uncertain times. These include hiring counselors and other professionals to assist with social emotional learning, Jones said. Resources will be available when students return to school online, but this will ramp up in October when they return to their school buildings, he said.

Other money

The district also spent $160,000 on Florida Virtual Schools technology, the online platform that will be offered to elementary students who enroll fully online, and $286,000 on tutoring and other after-school supports for students.

Another $908,000 was funneled through the school district to New Vision Charter School and Loveland Classical Schools, also to be spent on coronavirus-related needs, and $152,000 will go to area private schools.

The Thompson School District also received a $122,154 grant from Headstart for preschool program, which is being spent on professional development and protective equipment.