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By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent

The Juab School District has applied for funding under the “Education Stabilization Fund Program: Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund II (GEER II).”

“Under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER II Fund), Governor Spencer Cox has authority to award emergency assistance as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to local agencies (LEAs),” said Dr. Kodey Hughes, Juab County Superintendent.

The Juab School District submitted the application by the deadline which was September 30, 2021.

An LEA is public board of education or other public authority within a state that maintains administrative control of public elementary or secondary schools in a school district. School districts are LEAs. Under the Local Control Funding Formula, charter schools are increasingly treated as LEAs.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (CRRSA) was signed into law December 27, 2020 and provides an additional $4,053,060,000 for the GEER II Fund awarded to each state with an approved GEER application under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted on March 27, 2020.

“Although the uses of funds for GEER II awards are similar to those for GEER awards under the CARES Act, there are important distinctions, including the period of funds availability and the removal of the requirement to provide equitable services to non-public schools for GEER II,” said Hughes.

Generally, in determining whether an activity is an allowable use of funds, it must be determined if the use of the funds would be intended to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the social, emotional, mental health and academic needs of students.

Does the use of funds fall under one of the authorized uses of ESSER or GEER funds?

Is the use of funds permissible under the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards? In particular, is it necessary and reasonable for the performance of the ARP (American Rescue Plan) ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) award?

The Governor intends to award funding to eligible LEAs at $20,000 for a base award. Supplemental funding is available in proportion to their shares of special education and students in the Enhancement for At-Risk Students program for the 2019 school year.

“GEER II is a one-time funding that must be used by September 30, 2023,” said Hughes.

An LEA that receives GEER II funds under the grant is not required to provide equitable services to non-public school students and teachers. The Utah State Board of Eudcation (USBE) is administering that part of the program.

“Dr. Royd Darrington, assistant superintendent, has been taking care of the LEA application,” Hughes said.