News Photo by Temi Fadayomi Alpena High School students work in the Wildcat Den at the school on May 3. A large percentage of Alpena Public Schools’ federal COVID-19 relief funds were used to replace flooring throughout the district’s schools.

ALPENA — Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said that, unlike other schools around Michigan, APS doesn’t expect to lay off any staff as federal COVID-19 relief funds dry up.

Most of those federal funds went to one-time costs to support teaching and learning initiatives, enhance safety measures, and address the evolving needs of students and staff, Rabbideau said, adding the district knew any positions filled with those dollars would ultimately have to be sustainable even without the federal funding.

“We didn’t add too many staffing positions,” Rabbideau said. “We knew we’d have to shift them over to our general fund after the grants go away, so the positions that we did add through (the federal money), we made sure that we’re confident we could sustain them once they go back onto our general fund expenditures.”

APS and other districts throughout the country received federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Education Relief funds to address specific, one-time expenditures associated with providing education during the global pandemic.

The funds were allocated across various funding cycles, each serving distinct purposes and timelines.

Rabbideau said the funds APS received were instrumental in facilitating crucial operational changes, including the implementation of remote learning models and enhanced safety protocols.

“The first round of funding focused on supporting our transition to remote learning and implementing measures to mitigate virus transmission,” Rabbideau said.

Other key allocations from the funds APS received included investments in educational technology, teacher mentorship programs, additional custodial staff, and essential infrastructure upgrades such as ventilator replacements and flooring. The district also prioritized addressing learning loss through summer programs, tutoring initiatives, and the adoption of digital curricula.

Rabbideau emphasized sustainability and long-term impact.

“We made strategic decisions to invest in one-time costs and capital projects that would benefit the district beyond the duration of the grants,” Rabbideau said.

APS received multiple funding allocations, starting with ESSER I, totaling $689,692. That included $297,097 for educational technology and $285,815 for teacher mentors’ wages and benefits. The ESSER II allocation of $2.9 million facilitated significant infrastructure upgrades, such as $791,949 for replacing ventilators and flooring. Additionally, $981,058 was allocated for wages and benefits of various instructional and administrative staff. ESSER III, amounting to $6.5 million, continued to support those initiatives with $1.8 million dedicated to further asbestos removal and new tile installations, along with $3.3 million for staff wages and benefits over fiscal years 2022 to 2024.

Similarly, Hillman Community Schools and Alcona Community Schools leveraged their funds to support a range of educational initiatives and safety enhancements.

Pamela Rader, Hillman superintendent, highlighted investments in staff training, technology integration, and facility improvements aimed at creating a conducive learning environment for students. Hillman’s funding allocations included $530,930 for salaries and fringe benefits and $228,414 for technology supplies and equipment.

“We aimed to address immediate needs while also planning for the future,” Dan O’Connor, Alcona superintendent, said.

Investments in ventilation systems, technology infrastructure, and staffing adjustments have positioned Alcona to navigate ongoing challenges while enhancing educational outcomes, O’Connor said.

Alcona’s funding included $170,024 from ESSER I for Chromebooks and staff wages, $949,771 from ESSER II for various technological and infrastructural improvements, and $2.1 million from ESSER III for staffing and facility upgrades.