MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING
Schumer announces local school districts among those to receive funds
CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. » U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the recently-signed American Rescue Plan includes $2.5 billion that will enable upstate New York’s school districts to fill budget gaps, address learning loss, meet the needs of students with disabilities, assist students experiencing homelessness, provide summer enrichment and afterschool programs, and more.
Schumer, D-NY, explained that after the COVID-19 crisis forced schools to close, safely reopening them has and will continue to cost tens of thousands of dollars, and the federal funding allocated for them in the American Rescue Plan will help schools bring students back to their desks when New York recovers from the pandemic and returns to ‘normal’.
“Everyone wants schools to reopen completely and for our children to be able to return to the classroom, but it needs to be done in a way that is safe for students, families, educators, and learning institutions,” Schumer stated.
“COVID brought unprecedented challenges that have cost a year of learning and development for students—challenges disproportionately felt by students of color, students from lowincome families, students with disabilities, and more.
As Majority Leader, I was proud to make funding for our schools a priority, and the American Rescue Plan will deliver this muchneeded aid to get upstate students back in school. Help is on the way for Upstate New York’s schools put behind the curve by the pandemic,” Schumer explained.
Echoing those sentiments was New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta.
“The name American Rescue Plan says it all: This is a real rescue package for K-12 schools across New York as they continue to grapple with needs only exacerbated by this pandemic,” Pallotta said.
“From helping districts preserve existing academic services to getting kids the social-emotional supports they need to providing the funding needed to reopen more classrooms with the
social-emotional supports they need to providing the funding needed to reopen more classrooms with the right safety measures in place, Sen. Schumer, Congress, and the president have delivered for New York students yet again,” Pallotta added.
According to Schumer’s office, Capital Region school districts are projected to receive $219,738,000.00 in funds.
Upon hearing the announcement, local school leaders responded to what the funds will mean to their respective districts.
“We are grateful for the funds Senator Schumer has proposed that help us preserve people and programs for children,” Watervliet City School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lori Caplan remarked on the $3,767,000 allotted to her district.
“It is also a priority to ensure we have the fiscal means to adhere to all CDC and DOH guidelines to keep students and staff safe while holding in-person instruction,” Kaplan continued.
“All of that being said, these funds must be smoothed out over 3-5 years to ensure our school
district does not fall off “a fiscal cliff,” Kaplan explained on how the funds are distributed.
The Cohoes City School District is projected to receive $5,322,000, and Interim Superintendent Peggy O’Shea opined on the funding impact, as they like many school districts have dealt with budget and staffing cuts.
“At a time when school districts are facing financial uncertainties due to the pandemic we’re grateful for the additional aid. Despite recent challenges, we remain committed to supporting our students and any additional funding will help us do that,” O’Shea stated.
“The City School District of Albany is grateful beyond measure to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, as well as Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Tonko, for their leadership in helping to make the American Rescue Plan a reality for school districts and communities like ours nationwide,” Superintendent of Albany City School District Kaweeda G. Adams stated on the $44,212,000 her district is slated to receive.
“The fiscal loss and uncertainty we have experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to our ability to provide the academic and
social-emotional programs and staffing we know our students and families need and deserve. This very welcomed and needed federal funding will help stabilize our organization throughout the COVID-19 recovery, and allow us to provide additional supports our students and families will need in the months and years ahead,” Adams explained.
Also of note in Albany County, Green Island Union Free School District is estimated to get $749,000.00.
In Rensselaer County, the Troy City School District stands to receive $16,286,000 in funds. Prior to print, a district spokesperson noted Superintendent of Schools John Carmello would discuss the funding in a presentation to the Board of Education on Wednesday night.
Across town, Lansingburgh Central School District is projected to receive $7,155,000 in funds.
“The District is incredibly grateful for the additional federal funding that is expected to arrive due to the passage of the American Rescue Plan,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Antonio W. Abitabile stated. “Since the start of the pandemic, financial uncertainty has been a major topic of discussion in Lansingburgh and our hope is these funds will be
used to secure our fiscal future.
“They would allow us to expand our programs and address any academic, social, and emotional deficiencies that our students have incurred throughout this pandemic. We thank our elected officials for continuing their advocacy on behalf of our children and our schools.”
In the East Greenbush Central School District, Superintendent Jeff Simons commented on the $2,833,000 his district is estimated to see.
“We are grateful for the support for our schools provided by our federal elected officials including Senator Schumer,” Simons said. “We look forward to learning more about how the allocation of funds will be distributed to schools and exploring ways to use these funds to support student academic success.
“As we study the permissible use of these funds we will focus on student learning gaps caused by the pandemic, student mental health, and how these funds may be used to transition our schools back to full in-person learning, K-12.”
Superintendent of Rensselaer City School District Joseph Kardash also explained the importance of the funds for his district.
“We would like to thank
Senator Schumer and everyone involved in securing this much-needed funding. Small, distressed school districts like Rensselaer have never needed support more than right now with the additional costs of keeping our students safe and providing them with the instructional support that they will need after this crazy year. We are comforted in knowing that our voices of student advocacy in a small, high-needs district were heard loud and clear,” Kardash noted on the $2,572,000 in slated funds.
Elsewhere throughout Rensselaer County, the following school district will also see funding: Averill Park Central School District $1,560,000, Berlin Central School District $1,031,000, Brunswick Central School District (Brittonkill) $1,050,000, Hoosic Valley Central School District $1,033,000, Hoosick Falls Central School District $2,929,000, North Greenbush Common School District (Williams) $144,000, Schodack Central School District $282,000, Wynantskill Union Free School District $372,000.
Mechanicville Central School District is among those also receiving funding in Saratoga County. Superintendent Bruce Potter
expressed his appreciation for the federal funds.
“I am thrilled that Senator Schumer delivered for small city school districts. We have been creative with every dollar, we now have a path forward with this rescue money,” Potter stated on his district, which will receive $1,653,000 in funds.
In addition, the following Saratoga County school districts will also see the following federal funds: Ballston Spa Central School District $3,353,000, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District $978,000, Corinth Central School District $1,555,000, Edinburg Common School District $186,000, Galway Central School District $694,000, Shenendehowa Central School District $2,441,000, Schuylerville Central School District $1,070,000., South Glens Falls Central School District $2,090,000.
Stillwater Central School District is expected to receive $761,000, while Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District is set to get $918,000.
This funding is in addition to the $5 billion Schumer secured for New York school districts in the past COVID relief bills. In total, Schumer has secured over $14 billion for New York school districts in the past year, he noted.