What is the American Rescue Plan?

On March 11, 2021, the President signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Nearly $9 billion in federal funding has been made available to New York State to support schools in safely reopening and sustaining safe operations while meeting the academic, social, emotional and mental health needs of students resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Information: Link to NYSED site. 

What are the ESSER Funds?

The ARP ESSER Fund, authorized under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, will assist local educational agencies (LEAs), and more directly schools, in supporting students who have been most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to have suffered the most because of longstanding inequities in their communities and schools, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Link to NYSED site.

CPP Timeline:

CPP Project Period: 3/13/20 – 9/30/24
CPP Planning Period 5/05/21-6/30/21

Planning Team:

Michelle Caulfield, Superintendent; Jennifer Batzing, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education; Linda Perry, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education; Paul Webster, School Business Official; Bill Pierce, Assistant Superintendent for School Operations; Larry Eccleston, Transportation Director; Kerry Elsasser, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services; Jennifer Mleczynski, GST BOCES, Educational Grant Specialist; Jeff Marchionda, Director of PPS; Pat Overstrom, Secretary; Bridgett Freelove, Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, Beth Robbins, Employee Benefits Technician; Bill Cameron, Public Information Coordinator; Jillian Meister, Digital Learning Coordinator. 

Planning process: 

1. Stakeholder Input and Review of Plan (Survey conducted with Faculty, Staff and Families in June, 2021)
2. Budget Allocation Planning (Completed) 
3. Program Planning and Implementation (Underway)
4. Measure for Success (Continual)

CPP Areas of Focus:

1. Summer, After School, Academic Learning Program (General Education and Special Education)
   Examples include: SOAR, Hawk Days, Studio 315, Studio 245, After School Advantage, Parent Camp, Intramurals, Breakfast Club, Transportation, Bus Drivers and Monitors, English as a New Language (ENL), Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Related Arts Teachers, Building Leadership Teams, Tanglewood, Science and Discovery Center

2. Social and Emotional Learning
   Examples include: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Equity Collaborative); Family Services Society, School Counselors, Deans of Students, Steuben Council on Addictions, Catholic Charities, Clinical Associates. 

CPP ARP Budget:

• Summer Reserve: $284,287.00

• Learning Loss: $2,584,911.00

• After School Reserve: $284,827.00

• Continuing Operation: $4,643,258.00

Stakeholder Feedback:

The District conducted family and staff surveys and held administrative team meetings in June to gather input and data on our focus areas for ARP funding to ensure we met the needs of all students including English Language Learners and student with disabilities. We also supported in-person and virtual sessions with community daycare providers, the Parent Advisory Committee, PTA Council, and Special Education PTA. The District will continue on-going collaboration with community partners. 

If you wish to provide the school district with additional feedback, please contact the District Office at 607-936-3704 ext. 1004.

Links:

Family and Staff Input and Data Presentation

ARP-ESSER Application: Part 2 - ARP Act

ARP-ESSER Application: Part 2 - ARP Act with Amendment

ARP-ESSER Application: State Reserves - ARP State Reserves

ARP-ESSER Application: State Reserves - ARP State Reserves with Amendments

State Budget Reporting Survey published 6/28/22

New York State ESSA-Funded Programs Complaint Procedures

Link to Business Services Department page