Recently, the Town Council decided to dedicate $1.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to help smooth out the school budget. As part of a long-term plan, the remainder of that federal funding is in line to be spent on education.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
SOME ARPA MONEY COMMITTED TO SCHOOLS
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JULY 13, 2022) – The Town of Middletown has designated more of its American Rescue Plan Act funding.
As part of the recently approved Fiscal 2023 budget, the Town Council set aside $1.7 million in federal rescue dollars to help the schools and bolster educational programs.
The biggest chunk of that money — $800,000 — was to replace the nonrecurring revenue in the school budget. The goal is to “smooth” things over so there’s not a spike one year and a large dip the next with the education numbers.
The council okayed spending $230,000 in ARPA money for the school’s “Beyond The Bell” program as well as a coordinator, $250,000 to the summer school program and $75,000 for the “Parents As Teachers” program. Hearing about the age of some of the sports equipment, the council set aside $200,000 for new gear and uniforms.
In case unanticipated issues cropped up in the school budget, the council set aside close to $570,000 to cover expenses.
Further committing to the new town Department of Children, Youth & Learning, the council allocated $110,000 to a Healthy Communities Coordinator, $25,000 in program costs and $10,000 in operating costs for the effort. The new department has been championed by Councilman Dennis Turano to help students with learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic and get them more ready for “the real world” after leaving Middletown schools.
“We look forward to continue working together, as we have been to be able to rectify things,” School Committee Chairwoman Theresa Spengler said. “We appreciate the council’s support and obviously, we have the best interest of our students in mind.”
Last year, the town learned it was in line to receive about $4.75 million in federal ARPA money. That money was part of a sweeping program from President Joe Biden to help communities across the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At this point, the council has not formally designated a use for about $2.75 million of its remaining ARPA money.
However, as part of the town’s long-term plan to help the school figures, the remainder of the ARPA money would be used to stabilize future education budgets. Future Town Councils in Fiscal2024, Fiscal 2025 and Fiscal 2026 would need to sign off on that plan.
Previously, more than 100 residents and businesspeople submitted suggestions for how best to use the ARPA money. Those ranged from helping the schools to recreational projects, beefing up economic development and dozens of other ideas.
Town staff said a date for the council to discuss the ARPA money again has not been set. Under ARPA rules, the town must obligate the ARPA money no later than Dec. 31, 2024.
Document Link: https://www.middletownri.com/DocumentCenter/View/5208/NYCU-ARPA
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