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20 <br /> 1 SLIDE #30 <br /> Public Hearing Follow-Up <br /> • American Rescue Pian Act Eligible Uses-Education <br /> 1. A4d�i,`;oducallo dlapariNs Waugh.xw w a,pa dW"laaaysg asrvlas, <br /> pmvidsg akfioonal reswaces hig9v-poverty achml d'ahi�a oA nng sducaFM <br /> ee like Iwvag ar afmrsch�pragrema es vrei�®arses to afdese sial. <br /> emoomssf,end meeml health reeds:and, <br /> 3. P—Ming hsamhy chlld d--s.Inclub n naw o,eypan0 high qs y <br /> clidceis,home ws'Aing prog.br families w h young ci,M n,and enhanced <br /> aerrcee forshid veMare-irn-olved families arvd feaierymah <br /> ORF.NCE CU'IPNTY <br /> 2 <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Commissioner Hamilton referred to Slide #27, and said the federal funds will not go to <br /> 5 everyone in the County, but just those in need. She said it would be interesting to have an <br /> 6 estimate on the number who would receive the ARPA money, and see if it is closer to the per <br /> 7 student amount. She said students are some of the most vulnerable members of the <br /> 8 community. <br /> 9 Travis Myren said students are also included in the total population, so there is some <br /> 10 double counting, but the comparison was used for illustrative purposes. He said he can look <br /> 11 into providing the information Commissioner Hamilton requested. <br /> 12 Commissioner Fowler referred to slide #30, and asked if the County has talked to the <br /> 13 school districts about how they might make use of these education allowances from ARPA. <br /> 14 Travis Myren said the use of this money would be at the BOCC's discretion, because the <br /> 15 schools are getting their own federal money. He said if the Board would like him to explore <br /> 16 those ideas, he can do so. <br /> 17 Commissioner Fowler verified that these are all one time funds so cannot be used to <br /> 18 start universal pre-K, or anything which would require ongoing funding. <br /> 19 Travis Myren said yes. <br /> 20 Commissioner Bedford extended thanks to everyone in the schools systems who worked <br /> 21 so hard during an unprecedented year. She said everyone had to constantly be flexible, <br /> 22 following the science, and keep up with ever changing information. She said it was a huge <br /> 23 effort and she is grateful. <br /> 24 Commissioner Bedford said she was leaving the school board when project advance <br /> 25 was about to be implemented. She said the General Assembly wanted to institute a merit pay <br /> 26 system based on test scores. She said the CHCCS school board thought it was terrible, and it <br /> 27 has been shown that merit pay does not improve outcomes for students. She said Project <br /> 28 Advance was approved by DPI, and tied professional development to pay in lieu of supplements <br /> 29 that most counties pay. She said the district decided to phase Project Advance out last year, <br /> 30 and teachers have been reaching out in frustration. She urged educators to focus advocacy <br /> 31 efforts at the school board level, as this is the closest group with responsibility to the voters. <br /> 32 She said the General Assembly is not funding the schools, and is not keeping up with <br /> 33 increasing enrollment and population. She said the BOCC is trying to balance the social safety <br /> 34 net of feeding people, of which schools have been a big part, providing utility help, and keeping <br /> 35 roofs over peoples' head. She said the schools are partnering with local agencies to cover <br /> 36 needs, and the BOCC had to move $1 million out of health and dental fund and reserves into <br /> 37 the County's fund balance. She said the County has a fund balance policy to remain at 16% of <br /> 38 budgeted expenditures, because it does the borrowing for the schools and County and the <br /> 39 percentage has to do with the County's bond rating, so it can continue getting money in the <br />