School districts make plans for federal money
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Mon Valley school districts want to make sure funding through the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund is put to good use.
The program will distribute $4.5 billion in federal relief to schools nationwide to help bring students back to class and provide expanded opportunities for those who need them most.
Nearly $50 million will help districts in the Mon Valley plan for education in a post-pandemic world.
School district leaders, boards and business managers have been working to make sure every dollar is put to the best use for students, their families, teachers, staff and other stakeholders.
Charleroi Area Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich said several district officials have worked together to outline a strategy for the money, with Business Manager Joseph Gudac at the forefront.
“He is doing an incredible job,” Zelich said. “It has been a collaborative effort with all of our stakeholders, our board and our administrative team to discuss and plan on where we can best spend this money. Joe has worked hard to help us come up with a plan that we feel very confident in.”
Gudac said the first allotment of funding helped the district operate and secure personal protective equipment and other necessities during the beginning of the pandemic, while the second allotment will focus on how school will operate as the pandemic begins to fade.
“We want to focus on how to get kids back on track post-pandemic,” he said. “We want to make sure that we have the programs and systems in place to continue to offer the type of education that is required and our students deserve.”
Charleroi’s spending plan includes projects to upgrade and modernize the middle school/high school building, which has not been done for 30 years.
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