Warwick Valley School District outlines its plans to use $6.2 million in federal stimulus allocations

The Warwick Valley School District will receive more than $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $3.7 million in Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) funding.

This is the federal stimulus funds for education that school districts across the country are receiving.

According to information on its website, the Warwick Valley School District intends to prioritize spending on non-recurring expenses in the following areas:

Safely returning students to in-person instruction;

Maximizing in-person instruction time;

Operating schools and meeting the needs of students;

Purchasing educational technology;

Addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, including the impacts of interrupted instruction and learning loss;

Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs;

Offering evidence-based summer school, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs; and

Supporting early childhood education.

Community feedback sought at federal stimulus funds for education

District administrators read through the guidance and met with the District Facilities Committee and the district engineer to develop a plan. The community will be asked to provide feedback. Questions and comments can be sent to federalgrants@wvcsd.org. On Thursday, at the Board of Education meeting, District administrators will present their plan to utilize the funds.

Air quality and learning loss are the priority.

As the district reviewed the guidance, it became clear that air quality and learning loss needed to be the focus. One quote from the New York state guidance stated: “Indoor air quality can be improved by increasing outdoor air delivery to the building (ventilation) and removing particulates/viral particles from the air (air filtration) to the greatest extent possible.”

“These federal funding allocations are important for our students who need more opportunities to learn and grow in settings such as our Summer Academy,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach. “The funding will also give the district the opportunity to address other needs, such as maintaining proper ventilation and good indoor air quality, more outside classrooms and staffing, among other expenses.”

American Rescue Plan Act funding

The $2.5 million ARPA allocation will be used from July 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2023, to fund:

Summer Academy July 12th to August 6th (2021, 2022, 2023). The program for students in grades K to 8 will run daily from 9 a.m. to noon. A cold breakfast will be provided and transportation will be offered.

The district will also offer after-school programs, clubs, enrichment activities, and extended learning during the school year. Examples of expanded opportunities include:

STEAM Activities

Reading, writing, and math recovery

Wellness/fitness

Art

Music

Field trips

Academic events

Learning loss

The district will use just over $1 million to addressing learning loss, including the Summer Academy and the after-school programs, and $1.5 million for unit ventilators in 20 classrooms and other various rooms in the high school.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act funding

The $3.7 million CRRSA allocation will be used from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, to fund:

Rooftop units and air handling units for the high school cafeteria.

200 ultraviolet light air cleaners for unit ventilators districtwide.

The creation of six outside classrooms (High School 2, Middle School 2, Park Avenue Elementary School 1, and Sanfordville Elementary School 1) with many modern amenities.

880 Chromebooks.

600 desks and chairs.

Additional costs associated with running the district’s new pre-kindergarten program that will not be covered by state funds allocated to nine districts in the Mid-Hudson area.

Costs associated with teachers hired to provide reduced class sizes.