CTE विद्यार्थी आवेदन - यहाँ आवेदन दिनुहोस्!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Accountability Officer highlights how federal investment supported student programs, staffing, facilities, and technology across the district
UTICA, NY—The Utica City School District is sharing how the full award of $58,254,402 in federal American Rescue Plan ESSER funding was invested across the district following the COVID-19 pandemic which closed schools across the state 6-years ago.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Spence said the federal funding allowed the district to respond to an unprecedented moment in education while continuing to strengthen opportunities for students.
“These funds helped us stabilize our schools at a time when students and families needed support the most,” Spence said. “They allowed us to strengthen classrooms, improve our buildings, and make sure our students had the resources they needed to keep learning and moving forward.”
The funding covered the period from March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2024. The Chief Accountability Officer, Rex Germer, confirms that 100 percent of the grant was expended in accordance with federal and state guidelines, with the final balance of the funding reimbursement received in March 2026.
Across the district, the Federal funding supported investments designed to strengthen schools and accelerate academic recovery. More than $7.3 million was allocated to professional and support staff salaries and benefits connected to student services and academic programs. Approximately $13.3 million funded construction and districtwide site improvements, including work related to the new Career and Technical Education facility at Thomas R. Proctor High School, as well as safety and infrastructure upgrades across multiple school buildings.
The grant also supported significant investments in classroom resources and student learning materials. More than $20 million funded districtwide supplies and instructional resources, including curriculum materials, classroom furniture, musical instruments, and classroom technology such as SMART boards and laptops.
Additional funding supported equipment purchases, including Career and Technical Education program equipment and districtwide air quality improvements, along with BOCES services that expanded educational opportunities for students. This allowed for the state-of-the-art outfitting of the 12 new CTE Pathways’ classrooms in the newly added wing. From robotic arms to nursing simulators, our students will learn on and be trained within classrooms that offer state of the art technology designed to prepare them for real world applications.
“This funding gave the district an opportunity to make investments that would benefit students well beyond the pandemic,” said Rex Germer, Chief Accountability Officer. “The new Career and Technical Education wing at Proctor is one of the clearest examples. Years of planning and collaboration made it possible, and students who began the 9th grade exploratory program this fall are now preparing to become the first full cohort in those pathways.”
As the district continues to build on recent academic progress and program expansion, the investments made through ESSER funding will have a lasting impact on classrooms and students throughout the Utica community.
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