(KLZA)-- School Districts are currently making decisions on how to spend Elementary and Secondary school Emergency Relief Funds,  more commonly known as ESSER Funds.

Falls City Public School Superintendent Tim Heckenlively said the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan which is basically the third stimulus plan that was authorized. 

Falls City Public Schools have been eligible to receive more than $2.1-million in funding through the program with just shy  of $1.4-million coming in ESSER-III monies.

There are about 17 qualified uses for the funds with the primary target to help with loss learning during the pandemic and funds can also be used on certain facility upgrades, with a primary target being on air quality and air flow. 

District 56 is reviewing input from parents and educators in the district to determine the most beneficial uses for the ESSER funds.  Once the funds are spent, there will not be additional funds coming to continue things like paying staff and ongoing projects. 

There are certain criteria that must be met including at least 20 percent of the funds being spent on learning loss and instruction. District 56 will likely use funds on new reading and math instructional materials,  continuing the summer school program as well as instructional technology.

A large portion of the funds are eligible to be used on some needed upgrades in the District including HVAC improvements at the High School and Middle School. They have been on the project list for a few years as the equipment is now 20-plus years old.

Mental health and guidance counseling for students have also been a big part of the discussion. 

Heckenlively said a Falls High School HVAC project is likely to be one of the issues that are addressed.  A cooler tower at the High School is leaking and to replace the unit, a portion of the roof will need to be removed.  Cranes will be required to lift out the old tower and put in a new one.

The project will likely take a couple of months and the cost is estimated at just under a half-million dollars.

Heckenlively is hoping the cooler tower project can be done this year.  He noted that it would not effect the heating side of the system for the school.