Local School Districts Cash in on Federal Rescue Plan Funds
Westchester County school districts will be receiving a chunk of the more than $2.5 billion set aside for New York State schools in the federal American Rescue Plan recently signed by President Joe Biden.
“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,” said Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY). “COVID brought unprecedented challenges that have cost a year of learning and development for students—challenges disproportionately felt by students of color, students from low-income 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 much needed 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.”
“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,” said New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta. “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 right safety measures in place, Sen. Schumer, Congress and the president have delivered for New York students yet again.”
The Peekskill School District is the largest area recipient, on tap to receive $6,278,000.
Also on the seven-figure list, Ossining is slated to get $4,531,000, Lakeland will receive $1,526,000, and Hendrick Hudson will garner $1,365,000.
Meanwhile, Yorktown will receive $835,000, Croton-Harmon will deposit $527,000 and Somers will get $426,000.
Under the $1.9 trillion relief package, the funds designated for schools are intended to help fill budget gaps, address learning loss, meet the needs of students with disabilities, assist students experiencing homelessness and provide summer enrichment and afterschool programs.
“The pandemic exacerbated disparities in our schools, and we must ensure that resources and staff are available to help students recover academically and work through mental and emotional health challenges,” said New York State Senator Shelley Mayer (D), Chair of the Senate Education Committee, who represents several municipalities in Westchester.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
