The 2021-22 enacted state budget includes language requiring local education agencies, such as school districts, that receive funding from the Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP-ESSER) to post on their website a plan by school year of how these funds will be spent. This is that plan.
New York has been allocated nearly $9 billion in ARP-ESSER funds, with a minimum of $8.09 billion (90 percent) going to local education agencies, including public schools.
In addition, districts must identify programs and services that will continue beyond the availability of these federal funds and how local funds will be used moving forward in order to minimize disruption to core academic and other school programs.
Broadalbin-Perth officials continue to seek public input related to their plans to utilize these funds over the next three years to provide continued support for the health and safety of all students as well as the enhancement and expansion of programs to support the learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following plan summary includes information regarding the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District’s allocation of $3,373,426 in federal stimulus funds through the American Rescue Plan. Of the ARP-ESSER total allocation, 20% or $778,658 must be earmarked to address student learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The remaining portion of the allocation can be used to support our district, particularly in areas most impacted by the pandemic.
District officials are confident the expenditure of the remaining funds meets the charge to “prioritize spending on non-recurring expenses.” The funds allow Broadalbin-Perth to:
- Safely return students to in-person instruction
- Maximize in-person instruction time
- Operate schools and meet the needs of students
- Purchase educational technology
- Address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, including the impacts of interrupted instruction and learning loss and the impacts on low-income students, children with disabilities, English Language Learners, and students experiencing homelessness
- Implement evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs
- Offer evidence-based summer, after school, and other extended learning and enrichment programs
- Support early childhood education
Please note, the plan covers a three-year funded time span through September 2024. The three-year plan is meant to be fluid and amendments are allowed every six months. As such, we anticipate that amendments will likely occur as we implement programs, review each program’s impact on student learning and engagement and revise as necessary.
These funds are separate and distinct from the Coronavirus Response
and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) total allocation of $1,484,245.
If you have any questions about the ARP-ESSER funding plan, please contact Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tomlinson at tomlinsons@bpcsd.org or by phone at (518) 954-2500. You may also submit comments about Broadalbin-Perth’s ARP-ESSER funding plan by completing the form below.
[contact-form]Plan Summary
The Safe Return of Students to In-Person Instruction
- Updating Perth and Broadalbin HVAC systems for improved air quality, years 1-3
- PPE – Flexible furniture for improved student spacing throughout buildings, years 1-3
- Building upgrades for improved student and visitor safety, years 1-3
- Building and classroom communication upgrades, years 2-3
- Supply and equipment purchases to support academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs.
- Hiring additional health department supports to address on-going COVID related issues, years 2-3
- Hiring an additional mental health counselor and support staff to meet the mental health needs of students and staff
- Improved interior and exterior lighting
- Improved sanitation and cleaning practices, years 1-3
- Purchase of clearing and sanitizing equipment and supplies, years 1-3
Educational Technology to Support Student Learning
- Purchase Chromebooks to support full 1:1 device implementation, years 2-3
- Install upgrades wi-fi infrastructure at Perth and Broadalbin campus
- Lecture Hall technology installation, year 1
- Hiring of educational technology/instruction coordinator to support enhanced learning opportunities.
Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health and academic needs
- Employ an additional mental health counselor and additional mental health support staff, years 2-3
- Purchase researched student evaluation tools, years 2-3
- Enhanced PBIS programming, years 2-3
- Enhanced social-emotional learning experiences for students, years 1-3
Offering evidence-based summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs
- Offer extensive learning loss summer academic programming for graders K-8, years 1-3
- Offer summer Camp Invention program, years 1-3
- Summer PLTW camp for grades K – 8, years 1-3
- School year before and after school intervention tutoring programming, years 1-3
- Enhanced school year enrichment programming, years 1-3
- Extended media center hours, years 2-3
- Extended school programming, years 2-3
Operating schools and meeting the needs of students
- Building outdoor learning spaces, years 1-3
- Purchasing flexible outdoor and indoor furniture
- Purchasing of equipment and supplies for health and fitness center
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