Pa. schools to get billions in COVID-19 relief aid

Blair districts in line to receive nearly $40M

Nearly $40 million is heading for Blair County public school districts from the American Rescue Plan of 2021 Act, with more than half of that going to Altoona Area, according to an online database.

The Altoona Area School District is expected to receive more than $24 million.

AASD Community Relations Director Paula Foreman said the district is "very appreciative of the federal government's efforts to support public education during the pandemic."

Foreman added that "funds will be used for several purposes," including mental health services and access to technology equipment in addition to after school and summer programs for learning recovery.

The Hollidaysburg Area School District is set to get $4.4 million, Tyrone Area nearly $3.7 million, Spring Cove nearly $2.8 million, Claysburg-Kimmel nearly $2.4 million, Bellwood-Antis $1.4 million and Williamsburg Community $1 million.

Those figures came by an online database by PennLive.com, using estimates by the House Democratic Appropriations Committee.

Pennsylvania is slated to receive more than $13.4 billion of the $1.9 trillion federal COVID-19 relief package, just signed by President Joe Biden. Pennsylvania schools are to get about

$4 billion of the state's total.

Schools are required to put 20% of the money toward learning recovery, which local school districts have been planning in the form of remedial summer school programs.

At AASD's regular board meeting last week, Superintendent Charles Prijatelj announced that a "full" plan is in the works for the district's learning recovery program this summer.

Also last week, the Hollidaysburg Area School Board approved the district's summer school plan, which will include a virtual option.

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.

By the numbers

Blair County

Altoona Area $24,179,472

Bellwood-Antis $1,422,322

Claysburg-Kimmel $2,354,144

Hollidaysburg Area $4,427,234

Spring Cove $2,758,728

Tyrone Area $3,662,213

Williamsburg Community $1,036,604

Bedford County

Bedford Area $3,341,748

Chestnut Ridge $2,843,964

Everett Area $2,577,339

Northern Bedford County $1,683,862

Tussey Mountain $1,738,657

Cambria County

Central Cambria $2,540,527

Cambria Heights $1,849,303

Northern Cambria $2,287,674

Penn Cambria $3,150,786

Portage Area $1,899,007

Clearfield County

Moshannon Valley $1,997,501

Philipsburg-Osceola Area $3,556,266

Huntingdon County

Huntingdon Area $4,542,637

Juniata Valley $1,466,477

Southern Huntingdon County $2,316,144

Source: PennLive.com