Find more information about allocation of COVID Funds here.
ARP Spending Plan Narrative
Valley Central School District has been allocated $6,335,345 in federal funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). All Districts that receive funding are required to post a plan for the use of these funds on their website. Valley Central is utilizing the District’s ARPA to address the academic and social emotional needs of students due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also addressing the operational needs of the District.
The District is utilizing ARPA funding to hire additional instructional and counseling staff to support the academic and social needs of students including an elementary counselor, middle school counselor, high school social worker and attendance teacher, a middle school PE/Health teacher, a technology teacher, an ESL teacher and special education teachers. In addition the District successfully implemented a comprehensive summer school program, summer enrichment program, before and after school programs, a social emotional support camp and after-school club, and a check and connect program. These programs were implemented in the summer of 2021 and for the 2021-22 school year and the District plans to continue to offer them for the next two years.
Additional ARPA funding will be used for various instructional materials, facility needs, ADA compliant playground equipment and safety and security needs of the District. All investments of ARPA funds were selected based on the needs of the district and stakeholder input and are subject to change based on student academic and social-emotional needs as well as the evolving priorities of the District and its stakeholders.
The District is continuously seeking input and public comment from parents, teachers and other stakeholders regarding the use of these federal funds. Please contact Ms. Marianne Serratore, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, or Mr. Brad Conklin, School Business Official, to provide comments.
Goals and Ratios for Pupil Support
Summer School Goals
Pre-K-5 Summer School Goals: This program aims to provide elementary school children in academic need with learning support during the summer, specifically in ELA and Math, in preparation for the upcoming school year. Students will increase their reading benchmark level by at least one level in K-5. The students will focus on key mathematics standards to increase fluency and problem-solving skills. NWEA MAP RIT Scores will increase by 5%.
Middle School Summer School Goals: This program aims to provide middle school students in academic need with learning support during the summer in preparation for the following school year in ELA, Math, Social Studies and Science. The goal is to increase the number of students promoted to the next grade level, improve academic skills, and to increase NWEA MAP RIT Scores by 5%.
High School Summer School Goals: Increase the number of students completing graduation requirements/increase the number of students able to recover course credits/improve academic skills as will be measured on first-quarter report cards.
Summer Enrichment Goals
To increase student exposure to new material: Education enrichment programs encourage students to learn through different methods as they enjoy engaging projects and activities beyond the pages of a book. Enrichment programs can incorporate topics that develop children’s curiosity to learn something new and fun.
To increase skills and interests: Enrichment programs help students identify subjects and skills they might be interested in. Most students engaging in education programs can develop an aptitude for something they may not have tried before.
To increase motivation and positive feelings about school: Enrichment programs help students to build positive connections with the school and staff.
Before and After School Programs and Clubs
Before and After School Programs Goal: To increase skills and increase student achievement on standardized and formative assessments.
Social and Emotional Camp and After-School Clubs Goals: To reduce the number of students experiencing school-related anxiety, to increase the number of positive interactions students have with staff, to increase the number of positive interactions students have with other students, to increase behavior skills, to reduce discipline referrals
Check and Connect Program Goals: To decrease chronic absenteeism, decrease discipline referrals, increase positive staff-student relationships
Culturally Responsive Instruction: The goal is to utilize a Culturally Responsive Instruction Coach to improve classroom instruction and teacher-student relationships. Panorama Climate survey data will result in an increase in positive responses from students.
Analysis of Public Comment
At the June 13 Board of Education meeting, there were public comments regarding the safety of students and the security of our buildings. On the District website (on the ARP grant page) the District has the following message posted: The District is seeking input and public comment from parents, teachers and other stakeholders regarding the use of these federal funds. To provide comments please contact either: Ms. Marianne Serratore, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, or Mr. Brad Conklin, School Business Official. The District has not received any comments via email with regards to the use of ARP funding.
Summary of Investments 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-24:
- Safely returning students to in-person instruction;
- Maximizing in-person instruction time;
- Operating schools and meeting the needs of students: $37,132 | $162,630 | $162,630;
- 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: $267,576 | $762,241 | $252,991;
- Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs: $617,692 | $1,018,933 | $983,859;
- Offering evidence-based summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs: $564,791 | $777,410 | $727,458; and
- Supporting early childhood education.
TOTALS: $1,487,191 | $2,721,214 | $2,126,938