To the Editor:

Like school districts across the nation, the Guilderland Central School District will be receiving a substantial amount of Federal COVID Relief Aid to support the district’s  recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The district will receive $4.9 million to be spent by September of 2023 and another $2.8 million to be spent by September of 2024.

The school district has launched a ThoughtExchange to provide our community with an opportunity to share its priorities as we plan how to best use this one-time-only federal funding. You can find the link to the ThoughtExchange on our district website: www.guilderandschools.org/news.

There is broad flexibility in the ways schools may use these resources, but the resources are meant to support non-recurring costs.

Here are some areas that can be considered:

— Safely returning to full in-person instruction;

— Addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, including the impacts of interrupted instruction;

— Implementing strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs;

— Offering summer school, afterschool, and other extended learning and enrichment programs;

— Improvements to school facilities; and

— Purchasing educational technology.

This exchange will be open until June 29, 2021. Please take a few minutes to visit our website, click the link to the ThoughtExchange, share your thoughts, and then rate the thoughts of others. Your input and perspective is valued and appreciated!

Marie Wiles

Superintendent of Schools

Guilderland CSD