HAMBURG, N.Y. (WBEN) – Hamburg and Frontier Schools are two districts that are benefitting from the state's $29.5 billion budget investment.
Combined, the two districts will receive $68.7 million, a $6.6 million increase from the year prior. Hamburg will get $28.8 million and Frontier will receive $39.9 million.
"What schools across the state did last year shined the light on everything from technology disparities to food insecurities," Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera said. "It is in that new knowledge and gained experience that we move forward in addressing the needs of every student in the Town of Hamburg."
Much of the funding will be used to fill in the budget gaps caused by the pandemic. The funding, according to State Senator Sean Ryan, will also be used to help fund universal pre-K and increased internet access for students and families,
"We're going to keep the investment going for three straight years," Ryan said. "Districts like Hamburg and Frontier have been shortage on a major part of aid that goes to low-to-moderate-wealth districts. We're going to spend the next three years paying them back for what they were shorted for the previous decade."
The funding will taper off after three years. Ryan said there will not be a "cliff" for districts.
Hamburg Superintendent Michael Cornell said the funding will allow them to fund programing such as summer school. He also said it will allow them to invest in the long-term future of students.
Michael Cornell. Hamburg Superintendent. April 19, 2021WBEN/Mike Baggerman
"It allows us to stay within the tax cap," Cornell said. "We get roughly half of our revenue from the state and the other half from our residents. It's important for us to have enough state funding to stay within the tax cap. It's really important for us and property tax payers in our community."
Cornell said the district lost out on more than $50 million and had to defer capital projects because of financial issues. He said the funding from the government will help them move forward with those plans.
"This is money that we can really use to help children," Douglas Whelan, Interim Superintendent at Frontier Schools, said. "It's been some time where we actually disaggregate test data. It's an important concept. It takes money and people…We really never knew what (students) didn't know.
Disaggregation of data is one element that takes time to break down the test score and see what students can improve upon."
Whelan also said they plan to use the money for summer schools, academic interventions, social and emotional clinics for children, and potentially expansion of college courses like AP.
