Newtown Lawmakers Announce New Federal Relief for Local Schools

NEWTOWN — Area legislators State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) and State Representative J.P. Sredzinski (R-112)  announced $625,532 in federal relief funding for Newtown public schools on Friday. Made available under the recent Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), the funding is targeted to address school safety, learning loss, and the pandemic’s mental health impact on students.

“We certainly welcome this additional funding from the U.S. Department of Education.  This aid is intended to help address the educational recovery and learning acceleration needs created by the pandemic and is appreciated,” Rep. Bolinsky said.

“I thank the federal government and state education authorities for recognizing the needs of the local school district. This funding will be critical to ensuring Newtown students have a safe and prosperous learning environment,” Rep. Sredzinski said.

Superintendents in Newtown and other school districts across the state received notice Friday from the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) of an additional $492,426,458 in total aid for Connecticut in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER II).

The funding can be used by school districts for the following purposes:

• Improving COVID-19 response coordination between school districts and state, county, and local public health authorities;
• Addressing learning loss through high-quality assessment, tracking student attendance and engagement in distance learning, and evaluating academic progress in comparison to a student’s pre-pandemic performance;
• Need-based outreach for students of all backgrounds, including children in low-income households, those in foster care, those with disabilities, and those struggling with homelessness;
• Purchasing PPE and sanitation supplies, and training staff in proper sanitation and personal protection practices;
• Ensuring all instruction is consistent with requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
• Planning and implementing supplemental instruction like summer school or aftercare;
• And facilitating school facility improvements and repairs for indoor air quality.

This newest allocation brings the state’s total ESSER funding to date to $603,494,517.