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Syracuse City School District Reveals Plan For $109 Million In Federal Funding Syracuse City School District Reveals $109 Million Budget Plan

By Mikhala Armstrong

Board of Education
© 2021 Mikhala Armstrong

Mikhala: THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR FEEDBACK ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD SPEND 109-MILLION-DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
THE MONEY IS A PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
OVER 22-HUNDRED SURVEYS AND COMMENTS HELPED LEAD THE DISTRICT TO NARROW THE PLAN TO FIVE MAJOR AREAS.
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SUZANNE SLACK SAYS THIS YEAR’S BUDGET WAS A CHALLENGE.

Suzanne Slack: It is really hard to budget and forecast in a good year so in a year like this it is even harder

Mikhala: THE LARGEST OF THE FUNDING WILL GO TO ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION, GETTING OVER 55 MILLION DOLLARS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT GETTING NEARLY 25 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE OTHER THREE AREAS ARE AIR QUALITY, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE FUNDING MUST BE SPENT BY SEPTEMBER 2024.
SLACK SAYS EACH OF THESE BUDGETARY CHANGES WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR EVERY CHILD.

Suzanne Slack: We’re doing some things differently that bring joy to the learning process after all that the kids have gone through

Mikhala: THE DISTRICT MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE BY AUGUST 31ST TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING.
MIKHALA ARMSTRONG, N-C-C NEWS.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Syracuse City School District plans to spend $109 million in federal funding, narrowing it down to five major areas with the community’s help.

The money is a part of the American Rescue Plan Act to help school districts recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Syracuse City School District received over 2,200 surveys and comments about how the funding should be used by September 2024. Public input was a requirement to receive the funding. However,  “the survey certainly did validate what to strategically focus on,” said Syracuse City School District Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Slack.

The most significant funding will go to accelerated instruction, receiving over $55 million, and social-emotional support, which will receive nearly $25 million. “Now the federal funding can be invested in academics and mental well-being more so than partitions and air purifiers,” said Slack, which marks a turning point for the district from the budget focus a year ago.

The budget will include full-day summer school with six days instead of what was previously four. In addition, the Syracuse City School District will provide incentive programs for reading and math and support for disabled and non-English speaking students.

The funding allowed the district to add over 80 positions and maintain more staff even with smaller class sizes. “If this were a normal year and we did not get the federal funding, we would have cut 50 positions because enrollment is down, and funding would be down, and we did not do that this year,” said Slack.

The other areas the funding will go to are technology, air quality, and professional development. The plan is to spend $40 million in the first year on technology, including ordering over 12,000 computers for students. The district plans to spend $23 million on one-time purchases such as air purifiers and air conditioners in the second year. The third year into 2024, to spend $40 million for any items carried over, but this year’s spending will forecast the next two & a quarter.

The Syracuse City School District has not received the funding and must submit a budget application to the New York State office by August 31st to receive the funding.

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