FULTON, NY – NYS Governor, Andrew Cuomo announced last week the approval of Smart Schools Investment Plans for 52 school districts throughout the state, including Fulton City School District.
The Smart Schools Bond Act, proposed by the Governor and approved by voters in 2014, allotted $2 billion to NYS school districts to heighten learning through technological and infrastructure enhancements.
“As technology continues to shape the landscape of our economy, we must re-imagine our classrooms into modern centers of learning so that our students are prepared for the jobs that meet the demands of tomorrow,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release.
Fulton school officials had submitted two investment plans that were awaiting state approval and now will look to start the process of purchase and implementation, said Superintendent of Schools, Bill Lynch.
Smart Schools Bond Act requires the school district to fund the plan on their own and then submit to the state for reimbursement.
The approval came for FCSD after the Smart Schools Review Board composed of the Director of the Budget, the Chancellor of the State University of New York, and the Commissioner of the State Education Department met to discuss each school district’s submitted plans.
State Education Department Commissioner, MaryEllen Elia also said in a press release, “Our kids are capable of doing amazing things. It’s our job to make sure they have the tools and the knowledge they need to come up with the next big thing. And the Smart Schools funding we’re announcing today will help us do just that.”
In the first submitted investment plan, FCSD focused mostly on technological devices such as student laptops, tablet devices, carts for devices, PC replacements, smart board replacements, ten computers in the adult section and five computers and five tablets in the children’s section at the Fulton Public Library as well as some infrastructure purchases of wireless access points and a new core switch.
The second phase investment plan focused more on infrastructure and facilities work including wireless access points and the wiring for such, Liebert 6000 UPS (a battery for the event of a power outage) at the Education Center and switch equipment to support wireless.
“We are very pleased to have both plans approved,” said Superintendent Lynch. “The extra funding helps us continue to modernize and keep our equipment up to date as technology continues to evolve. This will be a very positive impact for both students and staff in our district.”
The district’s next step is to begin the process of purchase before submitting for reimbursement and implementing the plans.
The NYS Education Department also recently announced that two elementary schools in FCSD have been identified as Local Assistance Plan (LAP) schools for the 2016-2017 school year.
Fairgrieve Elementary School remains in LAP status for the second year in a row and is joined by Volney Elementary School identifying as a LAP school for the first time.
LAP schools are determined by the NYS Education Department and require the school officials to work with the state to follow a sequence of events to finalize a LAP plan for each school.
Both Volney and Fairgrieve schools are held accountable for their white subgroups performance in grades 3-8 English Language Arts as failing to make adequate yearly performance for three years in a row, labeling them as Category 1 LAP schools.
While Fulton City Schools transitioned from a district in good standing to a focus district, specifically with G. Ray Bodley High School now identified as a focus school, Fulton Junior High School has been removed from LAP school status and is now identified as a school in good standing.
The two other schools within the district, Lanigan Elementary School and Granby Elementary School remain schools in good standing alongside FJHS.
Executive Director of Instruction and Assessment, Elizabeth Conners said planning is already underway for both LAP schools to complete the diagnostic self-review document and report template, a process used as “an opportunity to identify, plan and implement actions that can be taken to improve the academic results of the identified subgroup,” as explained during a LAP school presentation at a regular Board of Education meeting.
“The self review is intended to be completed by the school leadership team in collaboration with district representatives,” as explained in the presentation, and will review the six tenets of effective schools and districts including district leadership and capacity, school leader practices and decisions, curriculum development and support, teacher practices and support, student social and emotional developmental health and family and community engagement.
The Board of Education needs to approve the LAP plans currently being worked on and post them to the school website for public review prior to July 29, said Conners.
Brian Pulvino will become Superintendent of Schools for the district as of July 1, and is currently keeping up with the plans to ensure a smooth transition once his position starts.
“Mr. Pulvino has done a lot with school improvement in Syracuse, so we are confident he will bring that expertise here and truly help us in our efforts,” said Conners.
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