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 (ARPR-ESSER) to post on its website a plan by school year of how these funds will be spent.

• Printable Version of ARPA-ESSER Funding Plan Revised September 20, 2023

• Printable Version of ARPA-ESSER Funding Plan Revised June 15, 2022

• Printable Version of ARP-ESSER Application: Part 2 – ARP Act – ARP Act – WEST GENESEE CSD

• Printable Version of FS10 FINAL budget ARPA 3-15-22

• Printable Version of FS10 1 Comprehensive After School

• Printable Version of ARP-ESSER-Application–State-Reserves-ARP-State-Reserves

• Printable Version of FS10 1% Summer

• Printable Version of FS10 5% State Level Reserve

• Printable Version of WGCSD CRRSA GEER2 Revised FS10

• Printable Version of WGCSD CRRSA ESSER Revised FS10 9-16-21

• Printable Version of ESSER2 Amendment

• Word Version of 1% ARP Summer Enrichment Budget Narrative

• Word Version of 5% State-level Reserve Budget Narrative

• Word Version of Budget Narrative Afterschool Tutoring and SEL

The 2022-23 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 (ARPA-ESSER) to post on its website an updated plan of how these funds will be spent.

New York has been allocated nearly $9 billion in ARPA-ESSER funds, with a minimum of $8.09 billion (90 percent) going to local education agencies, including public schools. West Genesee Central School District has been allocated $3,947,449.  This total is broken down by State Level Allocations of $1,007,288 and ESSER3 funds of $2,940,161.

Of this total, $588,032 of the ESSER3 funds and $719,486 of the State Budget allocations are earmarked specifically for the District to address learning loss.  $143,901 is reserved for summer enrichment and $143,901 is reserved for after school programs.  The remaining $2,352,129 can be used for other allowable uses within the grant.

Districts are 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.

The West Genesee administrative team met to discuss and analyze known and potential return-to-school priorities, with specific attention given to identifying and closing students’ learning loss, the impact the pandemic has had on students’ mental health and well-being, and the impact that providing a safe school environment with required changes to instructional modalities had on student progress toward graduation.  To that end, the team presented to the Board of Education the following prioritized initiatives on June 2, 2021 and June 1, 2022 and subsequently shared the plan with the community for comment.

Plan Summary:

To maximize the amount of time our students were and are in school, West Genesee has purchased and will purchase personal protection equipment, cleaning equipment and supplies, safety markings, furniture, and equipment to ensure in-person instruction.

2022 update:  The District was able to recoup certain costs totaling $743,443 from the 2020-2021 school year for expenses that assisted with the operation of our schools during that school year.  The tangible items included school lunch paper packages/utensils/wrapping, biodegradable bags, food service and utility carts, facemasks (including N95), sanitizer gel, floor signs, air filters, backpack sprayer, sneeze guards, shields, two way radio, barrier gate, and drinking fountains ($130,114).  In addition to material costs, the District was able to be recoup costs for salaries of some of remote teachers ($313,706) and salaries for those that assisted with building supervision totaling ($222,315) as well as associated benefits ($77,308).

Plan Summary:

Establishing and sustaining an effective collaborative culture requires overcoming common obstacles, such as staff turnover, adopting best practices, and focused collaboration on “the things that matter” in improving student achievement. The challenge is reaching the greatest audience of educators within the limitations of available resources. West Genesee will contract with Solution Tree to provide continuous improvement for all teachers, teaching assistants and principals with training in professional learning communities.  This three-year plan will build on the existing knowledge and structures within West Genesee and provide support to both the building leadership and teacher teams. This support will ensure the building leadership establishes shared knowledge and has the tools to monitor team and overall school progress through team coaching and interactive web conferencing. We will also work with teacher teams to build a common foundation and ensure effective collaboration through embedded coaching sessions.

2022 update:  The District contracted with Solution Tree in the 2021-22 school year.  To date, the District has spent $286,135 on various Solution Tree licenses, virtual conferencing, materials and supplies and having an on-site trainer.   $83,770 has been paid to staff for attending training.  There is approximately $209,715 left to spend on Solution Tree resources as well as $65,080 left to spend on additional training over the course of the contract.   These monies will be spread out over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.

Plan Summary:

West Genesee will create 5 grant-funded positions to provide instructional support for students in Grades K-9.  Based on math and ELA screenings, students with documented learning loss will receive interventions to close these gaps. Two positions are dedicated to grades K-4 for the 2021-22 school year.  Two are dedicated to Grades 5 & 6. One position is dedicated to reading interventions in grades 7-9. Student learning loss will be continually measured. As such, the District may continue supporting these positions following the grant period adjusting staffing based on enrollment.

During the 2021-22 school year, the District will hire a consultant to support diversity, equity and inclusion.  This consultant will create professional development for teachers to ensure that curriculum reflects all students.

2022 Update:  In the 2021-22 school year, $382,685 was spent on salaries to support four IS teachers and one Reading Specialist.  $513,903 remains for two IS teachers as well as one Reading Specialist for 2022-23 and 2023-24.  In addition, $86,185 was spent on the consultant.  Associated benefits for staff within the state level grant for 2021-22 was $139,208.

Plan Summary:
West Genesee will complete its one-to-one initiative and upgrade of instructional technology by purchasing chrome books, laptops, management software and interactive classroom panels.

2022 Update:  Funds were allocated for the purchase of $47,823 of educational technology within the ARP grant funding.  Due to the fact that the District received funds from the Emergency Connectivity Fund to fund these purchases, this allocation is on hold until the District reassesses its technology needs.  If no further technology equipment is needed, these funds will be reprioritized into another allowable spending category. 

Plan Summary:

Because the 2020 NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Test was canceled, our English Language Learners were not given the opportunity to demonstrate their command of English. As a result, many students will be mandated to receive up to two additional years of specialized instruction. West Genesee will hire a part-time English as a New Language teacher to mitigate this gap in service. Student learning loss will be continually measured. As such, the District may continue supporting this position following the grant period adjusting staffing based on enrollment.

With required changes to instructional modalities, several students with disabilities missed additional reading instruction to close achievement gaps.  West Genesee will purchase specific decoding and comprehension instructional materials (including the professional development teachers will need to deliver this specialized instruction).

2022 Update:  The District allocated $50,000 for an ENL teacher for the 2021-22 school year.  An additional $100,000 is available to support this need in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school year.  The District spent $10,201 on Wilson Language training materials as well as $5,813 on furniture to support our special education learners.

Plan Summary:

West Genesee is partnering with Onondaga County to provide tiered mental health interventions for students. In partnership with the county, specialists will provide small group and one-on-one counseling for students.  The District is committed to supporting the start of this initiative. Student mental health needs will be continually monitored. As such, the District may continue supporting these positions following the grant period adjusting staffing based on enrollment.

To support social emotional learning, West Genesee will designate a Counselor on Special Assignment to coordinate the research, planning, professional development, and implementation of a multi-tiered system of support during the grant period. This grant will cover the cost of a regular substitute counselor to serve the students of the counselor on special assignment through the grant period.  Student mental health needs will be continually monitored. As such, the District may continue supporting these positions following the grant period adjusting staffing based on enrollment.

As part of the implementation of this multi-tiered system of support as students return to school full-time, the District will purchase evidence-based programming (Second Step and Dialectical Behavior Therapy) to deliver lessons (both stand-alone and embedded into content) for social-emotional learning.  To help determine which students have a higher level of need, a universal screening tool will be implemented.

2022 Update:  The District funded $61,408 for the substitute counselor in the 2021-22 school year and has $129,338 to continue to support this in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school year.  The District also partnered with Onondaga County to provide mental health supports for our students in the 2021-22 school year.  The cost of the service is $153,740.  The District has an additional $345,916 that has been allocated to this service for 2022-23 and 2023-24 school year.

Plan Summary:

With required changes to instructional modalities during COVID, students were limited in their registration of elective courses. West Genesee will dedicate summer enrichment resources in July and August 2021 to offer additional credit accrual and recovery opportunities to students in Grades 9-12. This will open up time in student schedules during the 2021-2022 to take courses they would not have had the opportunity to complete. This program will be reviewed annually to determine how many students can benefit from this enrichment.

With required changes to instructional modalities during COVID, students were limited in their access to academic support. West Genesee will dedicate resources for after school academic support during the grant period to offer additional credit accrual and recovery opportunities to students in Grades 7-12. This will help students return to a graduation pathway that has been altered for many because of COVID. This program will be reviewed annually to determine how many students can benefit from this enrichment.

2022 Update:  In the summer of 2021, the District partnered with Cornell University for Summer Science enrichment courses.  It was a 4 week summer program that served 80 students.  The cost of the program was $22,500 for Cornell, $25,933 for staff salaries and benefits and $439 for materials and supplies.  The District is currently in progress of planning a program for the summer of 2022.  Planning for future after school enrichment opportunities is currently under way.

Summary:

The District continues to balance the needs of our students within the parameters of all available funding all while continuously assessing our future needs.  Programs and services that need to continue beyond the grant funding time period will be reviewed during the budget planning process.

On June 2, 2021, a proposed American Rescue Plan document was presented to the public and the Board of Education at a regularly scheduled Board of Education Meeting.  A public comment period was opened the following day with any comments being due prior to noon on June 15, 2021.  Thirty eight responses were received.  Comments were taken into consideration and an updated plan was presented to the Board of Education on June 16, 2021.  The Board of Education approved the plan at this meeting.

In addition, the District’s Parent Curriculum Information Council serves as the Parent and Family Engagement Team.  Multiple family representatives from every school and the District’s Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association meets monthly to review initiatives tied to the District’s Strategic Plan. The Plan includes multi-tiered systems of support designed to intervene for student learning loss through targeted academic and social emotional interventions as well as enrich students to continue accelerated growth to close gaps in student learning.  The information discussed at these meetings was taken into consideration when developing the plan.

On June 1, 2022, the American Rescue Plan was again presented to the public and the Board of Education at a regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting.  A public comment period was opened on June 3 with any comments being due prior to noon on June 9.  Twenty eight responses were received.  The feedback was as follows:

• The District provided a safe return to school in the areas outlined.

• Many commented that the District should add more staff for responses to several of the questions including teachers at higher grade levels, special education staff and support staff. There were also comments on increasing the District’s counseling staff as well as technology staff.

• A few complimented the use of Solution Tree.

• Many understood the need for technology but would like to have further discussion on the type of technology we use in future.

• Monitoring needs to continue, including additional evidence based strategies.

• Several would like to see additional opportunities for students, included summer and after school programs.

The District would like to thank all of those that participated in the development of the plan.  Many of the recommendations suggested have been or will be addressed through the regular budget planning process or within budgets for other grant funding.

ESSER3 Grant $2,940,161:  $1,288,649 spent year to date, $1,651,512 remaining

State Level Grant – Learning Loss $719,486:  $719,486 spent year to date, $0 remaining

State Level Grant – Summer Enrichment $143,901:  $49,672 spent year to date, $94,229 remaining

State Level Grant   After School Enrichment $143,901:  $2,707 spent year to date, $141,194 remaining

Printable Version of CRRSA-Act-Combined-Funding-Application-CRRSA-ACT

On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act). The CRRSA Act provides $81.88 billion nationwide in a second Education Stabilization Fund to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus, of which: $54.3 billion is for a second Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to support the ability of local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation; and $4.05 billion is for a second Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund which provides grants to Governors for the purpose of providing educational agencies with emergency assistance to address the impact of COVID-19. Of the $4.05 billion, $2.75 billion is set aside for Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools grants.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief 2 (ESSER 2) Fund New York State has been allocated just over $4 billion under CRRSA’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER 2) Fund. A minimum of 90% of these funds must be allocated to local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs. The CRRSA Act does not require that a portion of these funds be made available for providing equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools. Individual LEA allocations of the 90% portion of the ESSER 2 funds have been calculated by NYSED using the relative shares of grants awarded under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for the 2020 federal fiscal year.. Governor’s Emergency Education Relief 2 (GEER 2) Fund New York State has been allocated $322.9 million under CRRSA’s Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER 2) Fund. Of the $322.9 million, $250.1 million is for a new Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) grant program that is being separately administered by NYSED.. The 2021-22 enacted state budget directed that $395 million of the remaining ESSER 2 funds and the full $72.8 million of GEER 2 funds be allocated to provide school districts of lower wealth with a minimum per pupil allocation.

West Genesee has been allocated $448,913 in GEER 2 funds and $3,745,569 in ESSER 2 funds.  Funds are being used on some of the following approved expenditures:

• The provision of child care and early childhood education.

• The protection of education-related jobs.

• To support the ongoing functionality of the local educational agency

• Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of a local educational agency, including buildings operated by such agency.

• Providing mental health services and supports, including through the implementation of evidence-based full-service community schools.

• Inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and nonmechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, purification and other air cleaning, fans, control systems, and window and door repair and replacement.

• Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in local educational agencies and continuing to employ existing staff of the local educational agency

The ARPA-ESSER and CRRSA Funding plans listed on this page have been approved by the NYS Education department.  Spending plans will be updated through the school year(s) if necessary.  For questions, or if you need a hard copy of any material, please contact Christine DeMass by phone 315-487-4563 or Email Christine DeMass.

If you have any trouble accessing the PDF documents on this page, please contact the Publications Office at Email Publications Office or call (315) 487-2179.