New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Schools to get $14M less than expected, but that’s OK
Tracey says district is happy to get $79.9 million allocation
NEW HAVEN — The city school system is getting less federal stimulus cash than anticipated, but is happy just the same.
Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey told the Board of Education that instead of getting $94 million from the American Rescue Plan, the district is to receive $79.9 million.
“This is federal funds and the first iteration was apparently incorrect,” Tracey said in an email. “Our allocation is $79 million and we are happy to get these funds. We are in the process of planning for the use of funds. We are happy about the support we received from the (state Department of Education).” Why the confusion? A state Department of Education spokesman said that prior to the release of the latest ARP allocation numbers, many districts had access to a document other than the state one. The source of the incorrect document was unclear.
“That document provided estimated ARP ESSER allocation numbers and showed districts receiving more funds than the actual distribution released by us,” said Peter Yazbak, a state DOE spokesman.
“Our calculation was based on the actual federal grant award and I want to emphasize that there was no error in CSDE’s calculation.”
Connecticut received $1.1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding, with 90 percent of those funds allocated to local school districts using federal Title 1 funding as a guideline for distribution.
The focus of this round of funding is to fill in the learning gaps caused by the pandemic, accelerate learning and advance equity. At least 20 percent of the allocation — nearly $16 million — must be used on learning recovery.
New Haven’s $79.9 million compares to $98.5 million for Hartford, $89.6 million for Waterbury and $100 million for Bridgeport.
This is the third round of funding districts have received to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
New Haven received $8.5 million in the first round of ESSER funding that must be spent by September
2022.
ESSER II is bringing in $37.7 million and must be spent by September 2023.
New Haven’s new $79.9 million American Rescue Plan Funds must be spent by September 2024. It has fewer strings than the other two grants but remain one-time funds the district can’t count on to be sustained going forward. For instance, any programs or salaries created through the grants likely are to be dropped once the money runs out.
Even so, Phillip Penn, the district’s outgoing chief financial officer, said some funds will be used to fill a $4.4 million funding gap in the district’s 2021-22 budget plan.
“Without ARP, we would be looking at something painful,” Penn said
In this round of funding, the district also is assigning a portion of the grant to each school to decide how to use to improve teaching and learning. Like the district, they will use focus groups to advise the planning.
New Haven’s first grant was spent largely on technology, software and curriculum development as the district turned to virtual learning during the pandemic. In addition, it helped pay for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies. About $2 million remains and the district is expected to spend it all within the required time limit.
The $37.7 million ESSER II funds will be used to hire teachers to address learning loss due to the pandemic and provide extra opportunities for high school students.
Six “care coordinators” will be hired to work with families in need of community supports.
The district also has what it is calling a Summer of Fun, a host of summer camps and activities designed to re-engage students in the learning process.
Summer school will expand from six to 12 sites, and be a daylong rather than half-day program. Programs will be theme-based and, as much as possible, held outdoors.
“We want students to have experiences they never had before,” said Gemma Joseph Lumplin, chief of youth, family and community engagement for the school district. “It is about lifting families and making them excited.”
Summer school starts July 1.
For the new $79.9 million grant, Tracey said there is a short turnaround time. A timeline presented this week to the school board’s finance committee calls for the plan to be submitted to the state by June 7.
The grant also requires that the district have a plan for the return of full inperson instruction available on its website by June 23.