Graphic courtesy of BCPS
By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS) School Board received an update on the ESSER III spending plan from BCPS Finance Director Brandon Lee at its regular meeting held in Fincastle last Thursday night.
Every six months, the School Board is required to present the spending plan for public comment. The School Board did not receive any comments about the spending plan at the meeting. The funds have to be spent by September 30, 2024. The ESSER III document remained unchanged since it was last presented at the December 2023 meeting. Lee added that more than 20% of the award was spent toward learning loss.
Lee explained that BCPS is still currently in the process of spending the funds. Following the reimbursing ESSER spending from this fiscal year, and after the summer sessions (Summer Academy), BCPS will then know what it needs to spend and what it may need to reallocate, if necessary. Lee shared that all reimbursement requests would be completed “well before” the September 30 deadline.
In terms of finances, Lee shared that “everything is tracking well” and that “everything seems to be where it should be” in terms of projecting payroll for summer and other factors. Valley District School Board representative Tim Davidick commended the finance department, noting its “tightly managed” budget and “keeping a good eye on [BCPS] expenditures.”
