Local schools to share $285M windfall from American Rescue Plan

Vermont education leaders urge strategic use for federal cash

Vermont education leaders urge strategic use for federal cash

DISTRICTS TO BE STRATEGIC WHEN DRAFTING THEIR PLAN. IN VERMONT, THERE'S NEVER A SHORTAGE OF SCHOOLS IN NEED OF REPAIR. BURLINGTON HAD TO CLOSE ITS HIGH SCHOOL DUE TO CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION. NOW, A BUCKET OF UNEXPECTED CASH COMING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN -- WITH A LOT OF LEEWAY IN HOW LOCAL LEADERS CHOOSE TO SPEND IT. <DISSOLVE> <DAN FRENCH/SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: ááá 11:22:24 IMPROVING SCHOOL FACILITIES IS AN ALLOWABLE USE FOR THESE FUNDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN USED THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE RELATED TO SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERNS. WE THINK THESE ONE-TIME FEDERAL DOLLARS PRESENT AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION OF OUR SCHOOLS. 11:22:37 ááá> WINOOSKI -- WHICH HAS 800 STUDENTS -- IN LINE TO RECEIVE NEARLY $12- MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL AID FROM THE RESCUE PLAN. WINOOSKI'S ANNUAL BUDGET IS $19-MILLION -- SO IT'S A LOT. . <NICOLE MACE, FINANCE MANAGER, WINOOSKI SCHOOLS 5:34 SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR TIME ASSESSING THE NEEDS AND UNDERSTANDING THE RULES AND THE STRINGS ATTACHED TO THE FUNDS SO WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A GOOD PLAN. 5:43 > WINOOSKI -- WHOSE BUILDINGS WERE FALLING APART -- HAD ALREADY STARTED WORK ON A MAJOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT -- AND NOW, WILL SEE IF SOME OF THE RESCUE MONEY MIGHT COVER ANY OF THOSE COSTS... <MACE: 6:15 I BELIEVE THE H-VAC UPGRADES COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. WHAT WE'R LESS CLEAR ABOUT IS THE STATUS OF PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY..."> <SCHOOL BUILDING GENERIC> OTHER DISTRICTS WILL HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING USES FOR THE MONEY -- ESPECIALLY ON BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS -- <GRAPHIC> <GRAPHIC:$22M BURLINGTON $20.7M WINDHAM NE $16.9M RUTLAND CITY $11.8M WINOOSKI SD $10M ORANGE EAST $7.9M OTTER VALLEY $7.3M STOWE $1.4M MT. MANSFIELD USD $300K NORWICH> VERMONT'S GETTING $285- MILLION IN THIS NEW ROUND ... DIVVIED UP BASED ON THE POPULATION OF STUDENTS AND THE DEGREE OF POVERTY IN EACH COMMUNITY. BURLINGTON'S IN LINE TO GET $22-MILLION SOME DISTRICTS DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT. A BURLINGTON SCHOOLS SPOKESPERSON SAID LATE THIS AFTERNOON THEY'RE JUST STARTING WORK ON THEIR "RECOVERY PLANNING" BUT ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNME

Local schools to share $285M windfall from American Rescue Plan

Vermont education leaders urge strategic use for federal cash

School districts across the region are in line for a windfall of unexpected cash from the American Rescue Plan and it appears they'll have options on how to spend it.State Education Secretary Dan French said Friday that "improving school facilities is an allowable use for these funds, particularly when used these improvements are related to safety and health concerns."Several Vermont districts on Monday said they were not yet ready to comment on how they might utilize the funding, the third round of federal support since the start of the pandemic and easily the largest. Vermont schools will share $285 million from the ARPA, based on a formula that considers student population and community poverty levels. Burlington is in line to receive the top amount -- $22 million.A Burlington school spokesperson said the district is just starting its work on "recovery planning" but is very grateful for the support from the federal government. In Winooski, where a $57.8 million school overhaul was underway before the start of the pandemic, some local costs may now be covered by the ARPA funding. Winooski is in line to receive $11.8 million -- which is nearly two-thirds of its $19 million annual school budget. "We're going to take our time assessing the needs and understanding the rules and the strings attached to the funds so we can put together a good plan," said Nicole Mace, finance manager at the Winooski School District. She said she expects HVAC system costs, for example, could be covered by federal reimbursement. ---Here are the ARPA funding levels for a sampling of Vermont school districts:$22M - Burlington$20.7M - Windham NE/Bellows Falls$16.9M - Rutland City$11.8M - Winooski SD$10M - Orange East (Bradford/Newbury)$7.9M - Otter Valley $7.3M - Stowe$1.4M - Mt. Mansfield USD$300K - Norwich

MONTPELIER, Vt. —

School districts across the region are in line for a windfall of unexpected cash from the American Rescue Plan and it appears they'll have options on how to spend it.

State Education Secretary Dan French said Friday that "improving school facilities is an allowable use for these funds, particularly when used these improvements are related to safety and health concerns."

Several Vermont districts on Monday said they were not yet ready to comment on how they might utilize the funding, the third round of federal support since the start of the pandemic and easily the largest.

Vermont schools will share $285 million from the ARPA, based on a formula that considers student population and community poverty levels. Burlington is in line to receive the top amount -- $22 million.

A Burlington school spokesperson said the district is just starting its work on "recovery planning" but is very grateful for the support from the federal government.

In Winooski, where a $57.8 million school overhaul was underway before the start of the pandemic, some local costs may now be covered by the ARPA funding. Winooski is in line to receive $11.8 million -- which is nearly two-thirds of its $19 million annual school budget.

"We're going to take our time assessing the needs and understanding the rules and the strings attached to the funds so we can put together a good plan," said Nicole Mace, finance manager at the Winooski School District. She said she expects HVAC system costs, for example, could be covered by federal reimbursement.

---

Here are the ARPA funding levels for a sampling of Vermont school districts:

$22M - Burlington

$20.7M - Windham NE/Bellows Falls

$16.9M - Rutland City

$11.8M - Winooski SD

$10M - Orange East (Bradford/Newbury)

$7.9M - Otter Valley

$7.3M - Stowe

$1.4M - Mt. Mansfield USD

$300K - Norwich

Local schools to share $285M windfall from American Rescue Plan

Vermont education leaders urge strategic use for federal cash

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