ARPA Funds Cover Cost of New Windows and Furniture in Several SCSD Buildings
When some Syracuse City School District staff and students arrive at their respective schools for the 2024-25 school year, they will notice numerous improvements that were made to the buildings over the summer.
New windows are being installed at Salem Hyde, Meachem, Franklin, and Van Duyn Elementary Schools along with The Montessori School at Le Moyne over the summer break.
School officials said the old windows in these buildings had been installed in the late 1980’s with Lexan, a brand of hard polycarbonate resin in each glass pane to help keep the windows shatterproof. The resin had turned yellowish over the years, making it impossible to see through the windows.
“The new windows are clear, better insulated and more energy efficient,” said SCSD Director of Facilities Thomas Ferrara. “In addition, the new windows have UV protection which reduces the sun load on the buildings which will reduce cooling requirements. New roller shades are also being installed to replace the existing window shades,” he explained.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided school districts with funding for expenditures related to preventing, preparing for, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.The cost to replace the windows was covered by ARPA funding.
“As part of our ARPA plan, the district focused on the acceleration of instruction and air quality as two of its main priorities,” said SCSD Director of Budget Lauryn Miller.
Aside from the window project, ARPA funds covered the purchase of new student and teacher desks, chairs, and tables in 14 SCSD buildings.The new furniture can be found in elementary schools including Salem Hyde, Meachem, Franklin, Van Duyn, Porter, Webster, Seymour Dual Language Academy and Delaware Primary.
Pre-K-8 schools with new ARPA funded furniture include Frazer, Huntington, and Roberts. High schools with new furniture include Corcoran, Henninger, and Nottingham.
The desks and chairs were added just in time for the start of summer school at Webster Elementary. Students immediately started using the furniture just a day after it was installed as the summer session began on July 8th.
“These new desks are great,” said one summer school student at Webster as a member of the SCSD Communications team took photos of the fresh look rooms. District officials said adding new student desks, chairs, and tables is expected to support better communication and collaboration.
“Numerous studies show the positive impact on academic achievement with renovated facilities. The Syracuse City School District desires to provide a physical environment that supports and enhances learning,” Ferrara said.
There are several other non-ARPA funded projects underway in various SCSD buildings over the summer. Those include flooring, sidewalk, parking lot, and piping replacements along with HVAC improvements.
