Our state counterparts in the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) network have reported the following approved use for EANS funds being allowed in their states because they comply with CDC safety guidelines about air quality and social distancing.
We received these ideas in weekly CAPE meetings, as the official state chapter of CAPE. The DPI has said they will work with CESA 6 to evaluate any proposals that schools bring forward. Some ideas you may want to consider proposing:
1. Fencing to keep children separate by grades or pods or activities (learning area vs. eating areas). Mostly for outdoor learning spaces but theoretically a very large gym could be divided with plastic fencing.
2. Playground equipment to foster social distancing (more equipment means fewer children using it). Must not be attached to a building. Concrete footings are fine because they are required by safety rules and can be removed by the public agent when the EANS program ends.
3. Weights and weight lifting equipment, treadmills, gym mats, phy-ed equipment, bikes, etc. For schools that have expanded their weight rooms or added new weight rooms to separate students for social distancing. The phy-ed equipment is so children do not have to share equipment in gym class to foster social distancing (i.e., scooters) or outside classes (bikes). All equipment must be portable and unattached to the school building. Movable equipment actually covers most items needed by schools.
4. Leases for adjacent church fellowship halls and meeting rooms for extra classroom space, or for drop-off and pick-up locations that are warm, dry and socially distant so kids and parents are not congregating in halls, near doorway exits, etc. Must meet “reasonable cost” standard.
5. Outdoor solar panels on lawns to generate electricity for outdoor learning spaces. All portable and removable, not affixed to the school building.
6. Tents and portable umbrellas, chairs, tables, handwashing stations, porta-potties, heaters and fans for outdoor learning spaces.
The key to accessing these ideas with EANS funds is to get pre-approval from CESA 6 before you commit to the expenditures.
