Superintendent’s Update
Treasurer’s Update
(continued from front page) What a great school year we had at Mariemont City Schools! I was so impressed all year with the commitment and dedication of our teachers, staff, students and families to make this year as smooth as possible given the circumstances. Nobody will ever forget the year of COVID-19 and I am so proud of Mariemont City Schools for continuing to educate our students in a safe and healthy manner.
And while simply holding in-person classes and creating the Online Warriors program is enough reason to celebrate, our staff didn’t stop there. The Mariemont Experience is such an integral part of each school year and we made it our mission to protect as many experiences as possible. The students only get one shot at each year and we didn’t want them missing out on pinnacle activities or events. The sixth grade students at both Mariemont Elementary School and Terrace Park Elementary School were able to participate in a modified Camp Kern, which is a key piece of our Warriors BEyond Program for students in their final year of elementary school. While at camp, the students were able to live out the history they had been learning in class while also meeting future classmates and having fun outside of their school buildings.
We mentioned in the special State of the Schools edition of The Experience Newsmagazine that the school district had received several grants and one-time federal CARES funding to off-set the expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds helped to cover health and safety supplies and additional staffing expenses and expand technology infrastructure on school campuses. Since the spring, the district has received another one-time allotment from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Relief Fund Grant (ESSER II). Across the country, ARP ESSER II is providing nearly $122 billion to states and school districts to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s students. Locally, the district is receiving $1,454,385.
Additionally, many events such as athletic competitions and music concerts were able to take place, and thanks to the technology of livestreaming, we were able to share with friends and family near and far and allow our community to participate in the Mariemont Experience with us, despite attendance limitations. We also were thrilled to be able to offer our regular Warriors BEyond programming to students in the spring, with students in all grades getting a turn with some hands-on, experiential learning. Explorations and Expeditions returned to the elementary schools and junior high, respectively, while the high school successfully orchestrated a two-day Intersession for students in grades 9-11.
These one-time funds are restricted in their use but will allow us to initiate the Jumpstart program, providing extra support for students and families throughout the summer and next school year to ensure all of our students are on track for success. Additionally, this summer the school district will be replacing the field turf at Kusel Stadium. Artificial turf in stadiums needs to be replaced about every 10 years to maintain a safe playing surface for the athletes. The Kusel stadium turf replacement is being funded by a combination of facility rental fees, a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safety Grant, the turf reserve fund and private donations. We are happy to be able to provide our student athletes with an upgraded and safe field to continue their athletic pursuits.
When our students think back on the 2020-21 school year, I hope they remember the experiences they had despite the circumstances. I know I will forever be grateful to the students and staff for making it such a great year. I hope you all have a safe and healthy summer break, I look forward to seeing everyone again in the fall!
I am definitely looking forward to the 2021-22 school year and all the success it will bring our students and staff. And as always, you can count on us to continue to advocate on behalf of our community and provide strong fiscal management for our schools.
Steven Estepp Superintendent
Tom Golinar Treasurer, CFO
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