Macon County Schools plan to implement several prevention and mitigation strategies in order to continuously and safely operate schools for in-person learning as follows:

-Utilize EPA recommendation PPE, sanitation, hygiene and nursing supplies in classrooms, clinics, cafeterias, athletic areas, and on school buses for the following protocols:

1. frequent hand-washing by all students, staff, and visitors (hand soap, paper-towels, portable sinks)

2. frequent hand sanitizing (hand sanitizing stations in all buildings and on buses)

3. frequent cleaning, sanitizer spraying, floor mopping/buffing, and dusting (cleaning products, cleaning companies, hourly janitorial workers, floor cleaning equipment)

4. social distancing by acquiring ergonomically designed furniture for all buildings/classrooms where at least 3ft (preferably 6ft) of social distancing can be established.

5.  hallway and classroom sanitizing sprays (spray packs for janitors and sanitizing solutions as recommended by EPA)

6. additional staffing for academic learning, technology, safety training, distancing, response to COVID-19 matters, and implementation of protocols (teachers, counselors, aides, lab facilitators, academic administrators, technology staff, additional nurses; additional janitor): 

7. learning loss efforts (extended learning programs and hire additional teachers and staff to combat learning loss)

8. acquire additional technology staff to enhance learning, support remote learning as necessary, and to combat learning loss. 

Macon County Schools will ensure that evidence-based intervention will address the academic impact of lost instructional time and ensure that those interventions respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students including underrepresented student subgroups (each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English Learners, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care) and those who are particularly impacted disproportionately by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing supports that are as follows for all students all subgroups:

1. Academic Support (Learning Loss)

   a. High Quality Teaching Materials for Reading, Math, and Science: From Curriculum and Associates, Macon County Schools will purchase Ready Math, iReady, and assessments. From McGraw Hill, Macon County Schools will purchase ConnectED reading and math anthologies. For English language arts, Macon County Schools will purchase Reading Street teacher kits and student materials. From Foss, Macon County Schools will purchased hands-on, inquiry based science materials to support AMSTI and Science in Motion. 

   b. High Quality Professional Learning: Macon County Schools Teachers will participate in and sometimes lead Ready Math and I-Ready Reading and Math Training, Marzano High Yield Strategies Training and Materials AMSTI Training, Sonday Systems Training, DOK/Rigor Training, Dyslexia Training, etc.

c. Classroom and Teacher Materials and Supplies: Classroom and student supplies to include copy paper, pens, pencils, markers, tape, globes, maps, base 10 blocks, beakers, physical education jump ropes, balls, science lab specimens, CTE laboratory supplies such as metal sheets, fabric, mannequins, storage trays; classroom and student staplers, scissors, student book bags, index cards, rulers, protractors, compasses, graphing calculators, folders will be purchased.

  d. Instructional and Instructional Support Staff for Macon County Schools as follows: -Additional subject area and elective classroom teachers, Teachers/Coaches, -Academic Support Administrators:-Classroom/In-School Aides: -Lab Facilitators: -Technology Staff:2. Academic, Social and Emotional Programs and Recovery mechanisms will be acquired and implemented in Macon County Schools

a. Program Supports: Acellus Credit Recovery Curriculum-This curriculum/software is necessary to ensure all students including underrepresented student subgroups (each major racial and ethnic group, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English Learners, gender, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care) and those who are particularly impacted disproportionately by the COVID-19 pandemic have access to credit recovery and course software that will allow them to master critical objectives that have been missed due to COVID-19; ST Math Enrichment Program-This program is necessary to enrich the evidence-based math experiences of students from their core programs.  This is gaming math which is highly motivational and supported with SEL constructs; 7 Mindsets SEL Program-This is an SEL support that is used by counselors and teachers to  to promote self-awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making; Accelerated Reader Library Program-This program is necessary to reacclimatize students to the academic setting and serves as both a cognitive and affective program for library and classroom use regarding reading engagement; and Atrium Media Center Circulation Program-This program is necessary to monitor students reading engagement through book circulation and distribution. 

  b. Macon County Schools is hiring additional counselors to support students with their academic, social, and emotional recovery. 4 Counselors = 3 FTEs

Macon County Schools will comply with all applicable requirements of GEPA Section 427, as identified in the assurances found in this document. In order to permit students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries to overcome barriers (including barriers based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age) that impede access to, or participation in, the program the district will 

1. When purchasing classroom or student materials or devices (i.e. laptops, tablet computers, etc) the number of devices will be purchased based on predetermined student:device ratios in order to ensure schools with fewer community resources do not have fewer devices for students and staff

2.  Extended learning opportunities will include nutrition and transportation services in order to ensure that all students are allowed to access these learning opportunities, regardless of their economic status

3. Identified supplemental materials will be purchased for all schools (as applicable) to ensure no schools are excluded due to the socioeconomic status of the school's community

4. Additional staff will be allocated to each school for learning loss support, thereby increasing the number of students who can have access to these learning opportunities 

5. When implementing mitigation protocols, a formula for equity of distribution will be applied so that all barriers are overcome and all schools, staff, students, and subgroups have equal access. 

Macon County Schools has set up an internal monitoring process for ESSER Funds as outlined below:

1. Allocations and allowances will be aligned to the COVID-19/ESSER needs assessment conducted with Macon County Schools stakeholders in Spring 2021.

2. The Superintendent has created as ESSER Advisory Team that consists of the Superintendent, CSFO, Inventory Clerk. Federal Programs Director, Operations Director, Lead Nurse, CNP Director, Transportation Director, and an advisory doctor whose input will shape any revisions to and amendments of the ESSER III application and budget. 

3. The CSFO and finance department will monitor allocations and expenditures by producing, reviewing, and discussing monthly reports from NextGen.

4. A special use code will be assigned to ESSER III funds for monitoring, tracking, and auditing.

5. The inventory clerk will order and use a special tag/label for easy and quick identification of ESSER III tangible materials.

6.  ESSER III time sheets will be identified with appropriate titling and fund source numbers. 

7. Periodic internal equipment and expenditure audits will be conducted by the finance and/or federal programs department.

8. Information is reported to the community via the district' website and in monthly Wednesday Webinars that are held monthly. 

9. Macon County Schools  will review its Reopening and ESSER plans  periodically and at least every2 months months to ensure it remains relevant and meets-all statutory and regulatory requirements. 

Macon County Schools is meaningfully engaging families and communities throughout the life of ESSER and other relief funds by

1.  Establishing and continuing monthly Wednesday Webinars for Parents (This webinars have increased parental engagement exponentially and even after the pandemic has passed will continue to be a best practice)

2. Infomercials on tv media and social media (Important academic and support information is shared with parents and the community via WSFA and social media channels).

3. Broadcast messaging (Through the use of commercial products like SchoolCast, SchoolStatus, Dojo, and Remind, parents are frequently communicated with regarding all aspects of school operations).

4. Mi-Fis and Wi-Fis (By ensuring parents are connected with the use of connectivity devices for the home and/or school buses, parents can visit the websites, monitor assignments in the Google classroom, and attend school district webinars).

5. Drive-in/Drive By Activities (To promote CDC recommendations, many in-person activities will be done in new ways such as drive-by registration)

6. Wonderful Wednesdays Tech Support (On Wonderful Wednesdays (other than the Wednesday Webinar day), the tech team is available until 6:00 pm to troubleshoot any technological issues.

7. Homework Hotlines and Tutoring:  Teachers are using their G-Suites feature, Google Voice, to set up homework hotlines and phone tutoring sessions.

8. Phone Connectivity: Staff are using school phones and cell phones as instant communication tools with parents before, during, and after school. These connectivity points are used for tutoring, question and answer sessions, COVID-19 messaging, and more.