Walton-Verona Independent Schools recently approved the addition of five new positions granted by ESSER funds.
During the 2021-2022 school year, school districts across the U.S. have been determining the best use for ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief) funds. The money is part of the $350 billion American Rescue Plan Act that was approved last year by Congress in an effort to lessen the lasting impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
During the Walton-Verona school board’s April meeting, the board reviewed six requests for new positions at the district or school level, all of which require ESSER funding. Five were approved, including an additional district-wide special education teacher, a high school counselor, a district-wide counselor, a fourth grade teacher, and an elementary RTI teacher.
The request for a district-wide instructional coach paid for by ESSER funds died for lack of a motion from the board. Board members did not discuss the item or give a reason for the denial. Superintendent Matt Baker said the district has a technology integration specialist that supports teachers daily, but the district does not have a district-wide instructional coach to assist its educators.
The salary for the position would have been based on the district’s certified teacher salary schedule, Baker said, which changed based on education and years of experience. In this case, a college graduate with no experience could start at $41,000 and earn as high as $74,370 with a master’s degree and 30-plus years of experience, according to the district’s 2021-2022 salary schedule.
The approved positions are for the 2022-2023 school year.
