Weston School Committee maps $2 million in ESSER spending on HVAC, mental health

WESTON — July 14, 2021 — Weston School Committee maps $2 million in federal relief to HVAC, mental health and food services. Superintendent Dr. Midge Connolly told the committee Wednesday that ESSER 1 spent $163,000 (including roughly $100,000 on COVID testing), ESSER 2 will direct nearly $200,000 to building substitutes, $150,000 to food services, $175,000 to recommission high school and middle school HVAC controls and fund three new mental-health hires, and ESSER 3 — $1.8 million, due to the state in October — will focus on instructional recovery and larger HVAC work. Member Danielle Black, citing the Sustainability Committee, pressed for coordination with town climate goals: "The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in our town coming from town buildings are emitted by energy use in schools." The committee also approved a wastewater treatment plant contract and a $3,286,157.27 warrant, and agreed to a $10,500 MASC overhaul of the district policy manual.