5 school districts in Orleans will get $12.5 million in new stimulus package
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Central School is slated for $1,274,000 in federal funding as part of the newly approved American Rescue Plan.
The newly passed American Rescue Plan will bring $12.5 million to the five districts in Orleans County, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said today.
The breakdown for the five districts in Orleans County includes:
- Albion, $4,265,000
- Holley, $2,304,000
- Kendall, $1,233,000
- Lyndonville, $1,274,000
- Medina, $3,411,000
The funding is part of $2.5 billion in federal money headed to school districts in Upstate New York, Schumer said.
The Senator said the Covid crisis forced schools to close, with safely reopening them costing districts tens of thousands of dollars. The federal funding allocated for schools in the American Rescue Plan will help bring students back to their desks when New York recovers from the pandemic.
“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 said. “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 federal aid will help districts fill budget gaps, address learning loss, meet the needs of students with disabilities, assist students experiencing homelessness, provide summer enrichment and afterschool programs, and other services.
“Without this funding, districts would continue to be forced to redirect resources for many of the unanticipated costs related to the pandemic,” said Sherry Johnson, executive director of Monroe County School Boards Association. “Now, our districts can focus on getting students and staff back safely, make determinations on how best to meet student needs moving forward and begin to focus on helping our communities see the opportunities for education beyond the pandemic.”
