Plan for use of federal COVID relief funds

Introduction

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 its website a plan by school year of how these funds will be spent.

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. Duanesburg CSD has been allocated $1,465,717.

Of this total, $602,924 (or 41%) will be  earmarked specifically for supports to address so-called “learning loss.”

Districts are also required 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 and the impacts on low-income students, children with disabilities, English language learners, and students experiencing homelessness;
  • Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs;
  • Offering evidence-based summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs; and
  • Supporting early childhood education.

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.

Before posting this plan, districts are required to seek public comment from parents, teachers and other stakeholders and take such comments into account in the development of the plan.  A draft of Duanesburg’s plan was presented at a Board of Education Meeting on June 8 and emailed to DCS faculty following that meeting. Community members and staff are invited to post any comments to this Google Form

View a recording of Superintendent Dr. James Niedermeier’s presentation on the district’s draft ARP-ESSER plan.

View the district’s APR-ESSER application.

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Safely returning students to in-person instruction

PPE and Sanitation

Personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves as well as sanitation equipment and supplies are needed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Maintenance Personnel

An additional maintenance person is needed to ensure the successful operation of HVAC and other building mechanicals. A future retirement will eliminate the need for the extra ongoing expense after one year. 

Window and Door Replacements

Old windows and doors will be systematically replaced to aid in building airflow. This initiative will be completed with funds from the next capital project.

Operating schools and meeting the needs of students

Coordination of MS Program

Middle Schools students participated in remote only instruction at a higher rate than other students and, because of this, will likely need the most support returning to in-person instruction. A Middle School Coordinator will be hired to make sure that struggling students in grades 6-8 do not fall through the cracks. A retirement will allow this position to be funded through the general fund beginning in January. 

Emergency Purchasing

Purchasing of PPE and technology was needed last spring to transition into remote instruction. 

Standby Costs

Bus drivers were retained last spring even though the district was entirely remote.

Door and Window Replacements

Doors and windows will be replaced in a systematic way to improve the overall airflow and security of the buildings. 

Heating Fuel Tank Replacement

A new fuel tank is needed to eliminate the need for ongoing negative environmental mitigation. A more environmentally-friendly tank will be purchased. This project does not require ongoing funding. 

Purchase of educational technology

Room Technology Upgrades

We will be upgrading the AV technology in several classrooms so that we can more easily transition to higher quality remote instruction in the future. This initiative will be completed with funds from the next capital project.

Instructional Technology Integration Specialist

We will hire an instructional technology specialist to support teachers as they continue to adapt to 21st century classroom environments and tools. This position will be filled by a teacher on special assignment through the 2024 school year. Anticipated retirements will allow the teacher to return to the classroom. 

Chromebook Replacements and Hotspots

The district will continue to replace Chromebooks as they become damaged or obsolete. We will also continue to provide hotspots for students in need or reliable internet access. 

Addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all students, including low-income students, students with disabilities, English language learners, and students experiencing homelessness.

Secondary Home Tutoring

We will contract with per diem home tutors to recapture students who were unsuccessful during the pandemic. There will be no ongoing costs after the 2024 school year. 

Special Education Coaching 

We will contract with existing partner Generation Ready for professional development of special education and general education teachers and an audit of our existing special education program. Professional development will focus on differentiation and working in the consultant model of instruction. There will be no ongoing costs after the 2024 school year. 

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

Response to Intervention to Multi-tiered System of Support

A portion of the salaries and benefits of Response to Intervention personnel will be supplanted by stimulus funds in order to more flexibly use general funds for BOCES instructional coaching services in ELA, Math, and Science. These salaries will be reabsorbed into the general fund following the 2024 school year.  

Social Work

A portion of the salaries and benefits of school-based social workers will be supplanted by stimulus funds in order to more flexibly use general funds. These salaries will be reabsorbed into the general fund following the 2024 school year.  

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Programming

PBIS programming supports positive behaviors in our school. We will provide a portion of funding for increased PBIS programming aimed at students continuing to make positive choices. 

Reveal Math Program

The elementary school is in need of a new math program as its current program is no longer supported by the publisher. Reveal math is aligned to state standards, laid out in a student-friendly way, and includes assessment tools that will allow us to make data-driven decisions on achievement during the school year. 

Science Enrichment Coaching

The district will increase its coaching service through BOCES to include a science-specific coach for the Elementary School. This will be aimed at promoting scientific thinking and increasing participation in secondary science courses. 

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

After School Tutoring and Wellness

The district will partner with the YMCA to provide an afterschool program for middle school age students that will focus on academics and wellness. Grant funding will be sought to fund this program after the 2023-24 school year. 

Middle School Summer Enrichment Program

The district will offer two week-long summer enrichment camps for middle school aged students aimed at reigniting their love of learning and improving their connection to middle school staff members. 

Elementary School Summer Boost Program

The district will offer summer remediation camps for elementary school students aimed specifically at students who have struggled during the pandemic or have been participating in remote-learning environments. These camps will focus on literacy and numeracy. 

Supporting early childhood education.

Bus seats for UPK

Seats will be purchased to provide safe transport of UPK students to school, a new new service for the 2021-22 school year. 

Other areas of student performance and need.

Equity Workshops 

The district will contract with partner Generation Ready to provide turnkey diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops to district staff. Once staff is trained, this initiative will require no ongoing funding following the 2023-24 school year.