The district spent $3.8 million for technology upgrades and $1.6 million for camera upgrades.
Another $98,000 funded internet costs, and the district paid more than $15,000 for hotspots for families. Much of the spending is related to technology, including headphones for grades prekindergarten through sixth, math programs, and other online education licenses.
In COVID-19 prevention spending, Saginaw spent $136,000 for sanitizing stations; $75,000 for touchless water fountains; $67,000 for building foggers; $38,000 for thermometers; $36,000 for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies; and $35,000 for masks.
The district has spent $53,000 on a district nurse, $190,805 on private schools, and has budgeted to pay $750,000 on community collaboration.
Some spending seems unrelated to COVID-19. SPSD spent $4,808 for an esports program, $30,000 on a cultural consultant, and budgeted a total of $1.9 million to replace elevators. The school also budgeted $1.3 million for new building furniture and spent more than $800,000 on a line item described as “indirect costs,” as well as $5,595 on a microfilm machine.
SPSD has $37.2 million of ESSER remaining with a spending deadline in 2024.
SPSD’s proposed original budget for 2022-23 was $55 million, which the one-time federal relief more than doubled, temporarily, but will run out after 2024.