OMAHA- OPS Superintendent Cheryl Logan said at a school board meeting on Monday her district is taking the federal money very seriously. The district just wrapped up a month of gathering feedback from parents, staff and students to better understand how to use the money to help students and staff.

The district held 43 in-person sessions and two virtual sessions and received 8,441 responses to a survey on how to spend the money. Collecting this type of feedback is a requirement to receive some of the federal funds.

The survey responses mostly came from 4,671 families and 3,046 staff members.

So far, the OPS efforts have focused on getting feedback from those closest to the district. But soon, members of the community at large will be able to give their opinions about how the money should be spent by visiting the district’s website, district.ops.org.

After the first COVID-19 relief bill passed, the district received $23.2 million, which was used to purchase iPads and internet connectivity for those iPads. Each student in the district was given a device.

OPS was allocated $86.4 million from the second COVID-19 relief bill. That money needs to be spent by Sept. 30, 2023.

From the third bill, OPS was given $194.1 million. Under that bill, schools must reserve 20% for summer programs and other efforts to address learning loss. The money needs to be spent by Sept. 30, 2024.

In the surveys and in-person meetings, district officials asked families and staff to weigh in on four different areas: academic recovery and supports; well-being of students and staff; infrastructure for the future; and family and community engagement.

Those responding to the survey prioritized the well-being of students and staff above all else, followed by academic recovery — specifically tutoring and early literacy.

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