By Stephanie Osorno, Marketing Copywriter at Alertus Technologies

Educational organizations across the world have had to navigate several operational changes over the past year and a half. In addition to keeping students engaged in a remote or hybrid learning environment, school leaders were tasked with reassessing and enhancing their on-site safety measures. 

The good news is that there are resources available to help support K-12 communities as they recover from academic challenges and prepare to return to a traditional classroom setting.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funding: What Is it?

In March 2020, the federal government established Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through ESSER, CARES was approved to provide schools with $13.5 billion in emergency relief funds to better address the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since then, ESSER funding has increased significantly with the creation of two additional legislative programs: The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. ESSER funds now total a whopping $190 billion.

How Can Schools Use ESSER Funds?

K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. can use the allocated funds for various ESSER-approved recovery needs including:

• Preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19

• Implementing public health protocols

• Repairing and improving school facilities

As you and your team make plans for a safe and successful new school year, improved emergency preparedness, incident management, and crisis communication should be top ESSER fund considerations. 

How Can Alertus Help?

Alertus Technologies, a leader in emergency mass notification solutions, specializes in providing comprehensive and reliable emergency notification coverage during unpredictable circumstances like the COVID-19 crisis.

The Alertus Mass Notification System (MNS) offers:

• Integration with existing communication devices and systems, including legacy systems and devices

• Multilayered, redundant alerting

• Single point of activation to unify disparate systems and devices under one platform

• Targeted alerting

• Intelligible alerting capability, including text-to-speech technology 

• Customized, preset emergency templates 

• Alerting devices designed for ADA compliance

Alertus ESSER Offerings

Alertus’ ESSER-based solution packages include a wide range of hardware and software alerting tools designed to rapidly disseminate critical information to everyone, everywhere, when it matters the most:

Alert Beacon

With bright strobes and clear emergency tone sounders, the Alertus Alert Beacon serves as an ideal in-building emergency notification device. It also has the power to display a custom message about the specific emergency and how to appropriately respond.  

Practical and attention-grabbing, Alert Beacons can be wall-mounted in high-visibility areas and easily used in place of a conventional public address system.

Hard-Wired Activation Buttons

In the face of a time-sensitive crisis, Alertus’ pre-configured hard-wired activation buttons make it easy to activate your school’s mass notification system with just a push of a button. These wall-mounted devices are simple to install and can be placed in different areas of the school, including front offices, classrooms, and hallways. 

Depending on your unique alerting needs and preferences, you may opt for different color buttons with customizable text for general emergencies or more specific emergency events such as an evacuation. 

Alertus Desktop Notification

Unlike emails that could get lost in a crowded inbox, a desktop alert captures attention immediately with a visible, easy-to-read pop-up message directly on a desktop computer. The Alertus Desktop™ Notification comes with an option to use full-screen or partial-screen computer desktop notifications, or a less intrusive ticker alert at the top of the screen. 

Desktop alerts can help to reduce panic, maintain a regular flow of communication, and keep everyone on the same page amid a chaotic and nerve-racking circumstance. 

IP-AVA Text-to-Speech Paging Integration

Alertus’ IP-AVA Text-to-Speech (TTS) Paging Integration is a modular TTS interface designed to integrate with audio paging systems through either balanced or unbalanced audio. The IP-AVA TTS Paging Integration works in conjunction with the Alertus Server to provide crystal-clear alerting and a user-friendly interface for customizing word pronunciation.

Alertus LED Marquee

The Alertus LED Marquee helps schools reach high-occupancy areas, both indoor and outdoor, with immediate emergency notifications or general announcements. Alertus’ LED Marquees are configured and activated through the easy-to-use Alertus Activation Software. Alertus LED Marquees, as well as all other Alertus notification endpoints, may also be activated through third party software systems.

Implementing innovative alerting tools is a great way for K-12 schools to enhance their emergency preparedness strategies for future emergency situations and better ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Alertus representatives can work with you to build a customized package based on your school’s unique crisis communication needs.

Two-thirds of ARP ESSER funds — the most recent ESSER-supported program — have already been distributed. To receive the remaining funds, each State Education Association must submit their ESSER fund plans to the U.S. Department of Education. You can learn more about ESSER funding here.