ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief)
Looking Ahead:
Affordable Connectivity Program offers qualifying families $30-$75 per month for internet services. Broadband project and funding reports include Digital Opportunity Plan and Broadband 5 Year Action Plan. Contact Allison Agostino (406 202-7685) for details. The States Digital Opportunity Plan is open for public comment through July 31st. Please send all comments to Connectmt@mt.gov
The Safe Return and ARP Plans are due for the last time – June 2023. Please be sure plans have been updated in the past six months and are in compliance. May 10, 2023 email sent by Jessika.bol@mt.gov gives more detail.
- No cash requests or Final Expenditure Reports (FERs) will be processed in July. Submissions in July will be processed in August. Please review training on Final Expenditure Reports and guidance on ESSER II Close-Out for more information.
ESSER II critical dates:
E-Grants Budget and Cash Request Descriptions must be reviewed to ensure there is adequate detail provided. If you have questions, contact one of the ESSER team members.
Office Hours and System of Support. The ESSER Team is available through extended-hour coverage between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Feel free to reach out with your questions to any ESSER Team Member by phone or email.
OPI Review Process: OPI is assisting LEAs in mitigating risks to avoid audit findings by reviewing requests for funding and providing assistance with compliance. From June through August, we will be contacting schools to conduct monitoring assessments and helping to strengthen ESSER documentation. Contact Wendi Fawns, ESSER Director for assistance (wendi.fawns@mt.gov)
District Monthly Status Reports view of allocated and expended funds can be found on the OPI ESSER webpage.
New Faces:
Allison Agostino has joined the ESSER Team as the Project Communication Specialist.
Allison is a Montana native who grew up in Stevensville Montana on a small family farm that her parents still run. In Glendive Montana, Allison started her career as a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist learning the world of public health and community development. She has spent the last four years building relationships, leading community groups, putting down roots, and never saying no to a challenge. Allison has invested a lot of time in community work, she has served as President of her local Rotary Club, active Chairman of her community coalition, board member of the Montana Prevention Certification Board, Chairman of a local recreational group, and more. Allison also works with her local schools as much as possible helping with Suicide Prevention Campus Walks, Mental Health Murals, community service projects, basketball tournaments, and assistant Speech and Debate Coach. She enjoys painting, graphic design, video games, and a good book when she not spending time with her family and a small army of dogs.
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Many resources are available on the OPI ESSER webpage including but not limited to:
For further information please contact:
Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director at wendi.fawns@mt.gov (406) 437-8595
Rebecca Brown, ESSER Program Manager at rebecca.brown@mt.gov (406) 444-0783
Allison Agostino, Project Communication Specialist at allison.agostino@mt.gov (406) 202-7685
Questions? Contact:
Wendi Fawns, ESSER/EANS Director at wendi.fawns@mt.gov
Rebecca Brown, ESSER Program Manager at rebecca.brown@mt.gov
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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