Lynbrook UFSD

State Foundation Aid Funding Plan 

Introduction

The 2021-2022 enacted state budget includes language stating that, for the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023- 24 school years, each school district receiving a foundation aid increase of more than 10% or $10,000,000 a school year must post a plan of how the funds will be used to address student performance and need, including but not limited to:

• Increasing graduation rates and eliminating the achievement gap;
  
• Reducing class size;
  
• Providing supports for students who are not meeting, or who are at risk of not meeting, state learning standards in core academic subject areas;
  
• Addressing student social-emotional health; and
  
• Providing adequate resources to English language learners, students with disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness.

For the 2021-22 school year, the Lynbrook Union Free School District received a foundation aid increase of $1,575,088 (24%).

While the Lynbrook School District regularly engages in a robust budget development process every year, the 2021-2022 budget was formed in concert with a five-phase Reopening Task Force. These ongoing discussions which involved over 100 individual stakeholders provided the most important elements that served as the guiding principles for the 2021-2022 budget: the elimination of the achievement gap using technology; supporting students who are not meeting or who are in risk of not meeting state learning standards in core academic areas; addressing student social-emotional health; and providing adequate resources to English language learners, students with disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness.

The 2021-2022 budget was developed with the looming threat of unprecedented cuts to state aid and an overwhelming need to present the community with a responsible tax levy that recognized the hardships being encountered by those who became unemployed or underemployed due the effects of the global pandemic. The increase in Foundation Aid enabled the district to accomplish all its stated goals while presenting the lowest tax levy in five years in recognition of the economic devastation being experienced by so many.

Specifically, the increase in foundation aid was used to support the goals of the Reopening Task Force in the following manner:

Increasing graduation rates and eliminating the achievement gap using technology

The 2021-22 budget provides $510,806 dollars to be allocated to reducing the digital divide and providing equitable technological resources to all students. The global pandemic crisis accelerated the district's commitment to the expansion of its One to World project into the elementary schools. These expanded resources included utilizing the Microsoft Cloud and Adobe Cloud offerings to students as well as providing necessary technical support for the additional 1,100 devices purchased in response to the needs of remote learning. The increase in Foundation Aid will ensure that these improvements do not disappear when the pandemic ends. Rather, by updating teacher workstations and providing digital curriculum resources like Schoology, See Saw, and on-line databases, all students will have the same access to these vital learning resources regardless of any socio-economic disparity.

Providing supports for students who are not meeting, or who are at risk of not meeting, state learning standards in core academic subject areas

The 2021-22 budget codifies the district's commitment to its CDOS program by coalescing all expenditures in this area under the auspices of the Guidance Department. The Guidance Director will now work closely with the Transition Coordinator to oversee the South Oaks Job Coaching Program. While these existing elements have been present in various budgets for years, the increase in Foundation Aid enables $215,435 to be continued with greater oversight and accountability. ln addition, the district has been incrementally increasing its psychological staff. The increase in Foundation Aid enables this increase to be made permanent.

Addressing student social-emotional health

While the majority of the funds delegated for this priority area will be met via the ESSER and GEER funding sources, the 2021-22 budget does include $108,816 for the following: the addition of texts that specifically address Social and Emotional Learning at the elementary and secondary levels, a significant subsidy toward the continuation of the summer recreation program to reduce cost to families in light of the pandemic, and the continuation of a Health and Safety Consultant through Nassau BOCES.

Providing adequate resources to English language learners, students with disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness

The increase in Foundation Aid will support the district's $530,238 commitment to the expansion of the Special Education program through the addition of administrative staff, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals as well as the establishment of an extended summer special education program in the district rather than sending students to out of district placements. The 2021-22 budget also provides $100,247 for the transportation of homeless students to district schools.

Questions or comments regarding this plan may be sent to fundingplancomments@lynbrookschools.org.