U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan got a firsthand look Monday at how federal COVID-19 stimulus money could help make school districts like Gary whole again.

The American Rescue Plan funding is intended to help students catch up academically and mentally after enduring a fractured school year of remote learning. It’s also geared to aid districts in making repairs to improve the school climate.

Mrvan, the Highland Democrat who replaced Peter Visclosky as Northwest Indiana’s representative in Congress, toured the West Side Leadership Academy Monday and listened to students and teachers relay their concerns.

The students wore face coverings and sat in socially distanced desks with plastic shields around them, ever-present reminders the yearlong coronavirus pandemic is still with us.

“I’m here to say hello and focus on what’s important to you,” Mrvan told students in Stephen Kirby’s African American history class.

“When can we all come back?” asked junior Alaina Steele.

West Side is gradually reopening. Classes began again in February with seniors, and now there’s in-person classes for grades 10-12.

Mrvan said the return to in-person learning was a local decision and he asked Steele if a school without ninth-graders affected her.

“I’m looking out for all of them,” Steele said.

Along the tour, district manager Paige McNulty and Principal Othiniel Mahone took Mrvan to a geometry class, a TV studio and performing arts class.

The Gary schools, run by the state since 2018 after they reached the brink of financial insolvency, are estimated to receive $95 million from the Rescue Plan. That’s more than all the districts in Porter County combined.

Congress based the levels on federal Title 1 funding for low-income students.

McNulty, however, said she’s concerned Gary may not receive that much, but a final estimate wasn’t available.

Holly Lawson, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said districts won’t receive lump sum payments. Instead, she said they’ll get allocations after a request is screened by the DOE.

“Essentially, a school must write a justification and say it wants to spend ‘X’ amount of money here’s why it meets federal requirements. They’ll need to make the case,” Lawson said.

At least 20% of the funding is meant to address learning loss during the pandemic.

The relief funding can be used to reduce class sizes and modify spaces to allow for social distancing. Schools can upgrade their HVAC systems for safer circulation, hire more custodians, nurses and counselors and provide for social distancing on school buses by adding drivers and buses.

It can also be used for remediation, and student trauma and mental health services.

Since its state takeover, Gary is the lone district in the state without a local school board to oversee spending. Instead, the state Distressed Unit Appeal Board will scrutinize and approve spending.

Gary’s financial plight, partially brought on by state policies that established charter and CHOICE or voucher-based schools, forced the district to shutter schools and lay

off employees.

A budget deficit has left schools with leaky roofs and balky heating systems. It’s believed the federal money will help Gary fix some of those issues.

Mrvan saw the covered West Side swimming pool that’s been idled and in need of repairs for years, despite complaints from parents who want their children to learn to swim.

McNulty said it’s doubtful the district could use federal stimulus money to fix the pool, but it could tap into school improvement fund money, a pot of money created after the state agreed to defer Gary’s Common School Fund loan payments last year.

The district is using that money to fix the track at West Side and segments of a leaky roof.

“My objective to make sure we have resources ready to fulfill every child’s plan,” said Mrvan.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.