The Rochester City School District is hosting two public forums to seek input from stakeholders on federal money that will be coming to the District.
In April of 2021, the State passed its budget, which includes more than $300-million-dollars for the District. Included in that sum of money is nearly $200-million-dollars from the federal government, resulting from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, which President Biden signed into law in March of 2021. This is money that school districts all across the country are eligible to receive because of the coronavirus pandemic.
By July 1, the District will post on its website a plan on how it will use ARP funding. The plan must include information on how the District will prioritize spending on non-recurring expenses such as:
- Safely returning students to in-person instruction
- Maximizing in-person instruction time
- Operating schools and meeting the needs of students
- Purchasing educational technology
- Addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students
- Implementing evidence-based strategies to meet students' social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs
- Offering evidence-based summer, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs
- Supporting early childhood education
This funding requires community input on how these dollars are spent. The Rochester City School District is prioritizing use of ARP funds to support the District’s strategic priorities and Independent Monitor recommendations in five key areas:
Culturally Responsive and Informed
The RCSD is an actively anti-racist organization focused on providing students with affirming learning experiences where diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the center of decision-making.
High-Quality Learning Experiences
Every student has access to and engages with grade-level content and high-quality instructional materials daily.
Diverse Programming
Each school offers dynamic, innovative, and engaging programs and pathways where all students can find their voice and cultivate their respective passion.
Expanded Learning
The RCSD provides robust expanded learning opportunities for all students that challenge them to engage in real-world application of their learning.
High-Quality Staff
The RCSD ensures that staff members have the desire, belief, knowledge, and skills to provide high-quality learning experiences to students every day. In order to hear from the community on what the District should prioritize, it will be holding two virtual public hearings:
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 and Thursday, June 10, 2021
Both hearings will be held from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Additional forums for students and staff will be closed to the public and all stakeholders in these groups have already been notified directly on how to participate.
To register to speak at one of the two public meetings, the community is asked to complete a
Public Forum Registration Form or call 585-262-8517 by noon on the day of the forum to participate.
Written comments and feedback can be submitted by any stakeholder (student, parent, community, or staff member) at any time via an ARP public feedback form which can be found at
www.rcsdk12.org/arp
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