Whomping willows and chess: Using Covid relief to make school fun

California schools have a lot more money to spend this year, with federal COVID relief funds. We’re looking closely at how one school district, Lodi Unified, is using theirs.

One big priority is enrichment programs, to help engage students in school after a year and a half of distance learning. In this episode, we’ll hear from a theater teacher who helped students build their own Hogwarts interactive scene, and a custodian who started an after-school chess club.

Guests:

• Valorie Fitzgerald, Theatre Department Program Director, McNair High School, Lodi Unified School District
• Shaun Montemayor, Custodian and Chess Club Teacher, Elkhorn Elementary School, Lodi Unified School District
• Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource

Read the EdSource article about Lodi:

• How one California school district is using its Covid relief money to help students