Seguin tabulates funding for SISD computers

Joe Martin The Seguin Gazette

Seguin Independent School District will receive aid for the purchase of hundreds of laptops bringing the district one step closer to fulfilling its goal of putting electronic devices in the hands of every student in need.

During a regular city council meeting Tuesday evening, Seguin City Council approved a resolution for the expenditure of about $60,000 from the Coronavirus Relief Funds to Seguin ISD for the purchase of 700 laptops and 250 hotspots in support of remote learning.

Seguin ISD Superintendent Matthew Gutierrez said the school district’s road since the coronavirus related pandemic began has been long and costly to the district; however, the city has never relented to provide aid.

“It was never a question that they were not going to help support the school district because we’ve taken on many additional expenditures since this pandemic began, and I think we’re now at about $1.7 million in additional expenditures, which for the most part we’ve had to tap into our fund balance,” Gutierrez said.

One of the most significant needs of the district to provide remote learning to students is the acquisition of technology devices, Gutierrez said.

“I think the city understands that need and they want to invest in their future,” Gutierrez said. “I’m appreciative of the mayor and the city council for supporting the children in this community and thankful for the city manager’s leadership.”

The Texas Education Agency will match the funds provided by the city to the district dollar for dollar, turning the sum of about $60,000 to about $120,000, Gutierrez said.

“[This] will support our goal to be a one to one district where every student has a device, and so we’re looking at a two phase process over two years, but our hope is to get to one to one this year, and this will certainly help,” he said.

According to a memo provided by the Seguin City Council, the City of Seguin received $1,718,145 in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the CARES Act.

“A minimum of 75% must be spent for medical expenses, public health expenses or payroll expenses for employees substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the public health emergency which was the COVID-19,” Seguin grant administrator Kathy Wood said. “We do have what we call a secondary fund, and no more than 25% of it can be spent on supplies, equipment, and expenses to comply with the COVID-19 expenses.”

Other expenses the city has identified include virtual meeting technology for the City Council, employee teleworking equipment, which can consist of laptop computers and library webcams, Wood said.

“We also have small business assistance, utility assistance,” she said. “We have roughly $139,000 of the total 25% of the $429,536 spoken for. What the SISD is asking for is funding for 250 hotspots and roughly 700 Chromebook laptop computers.”

Gutierrez said more good news is just on the horizon for the district.

“Our budget has certainly taken a hit,” Gutierrez said. “But it’s these efforts that are going to go a long way, and I know that the county is looking at providing support to us as well.

“And we’ve been in conversations with the county, and so I think in the coming weeks, we’ll have some more great news from our county.

Joe Martin is a staff writer for the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail him at joe.martin@seguingazette.com 

Read article on SeguinGazette.com