JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten’s tour of Greater Johnstown Elementary School Tuesday included spending some time on a modern playground with colorful slides, picnic tables and rubber flooring.
Not long ago, the space was filled with just some grass and plants.
But the new area for students to exercise and have fun was built with federal dollars provided for COVID-19 pandemic relief.
“The whole school is able to use this,” Marten said. “It’s got sensory motor facilities that different kids with different abilities and disabilities are able to be playing with their peers. To be able to build a playground like this and use the current research on what accessible playgrounds look like and then put it right there in your school, they didn’t have the money to do that before the federal ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Fund investments.”
In total, Greater Johnstown School District received approximately $30 million through different programs for pandemic relief, according to Superintendent Amy Arcurio.
The district spent the money in numerous ways, including on safety and security improvements, curriculum development, capital projects, personnel and technology upgrades.
“We are so grateful for this opportunity and incredibly humbled to be able to showcase our school district and share our story,” Arcurio said.
“I was so grateful that the Greater Johnstown School District was recognized in the U.S. Department of Education’s school tour when they wanted to see how school districts utilized ESSER and COVID funding to catapult the school district forward with new programs, new curriculum, new upgrades to the school facilities.”
The district’s director of education, Dino Scarton, added, “Greater Johnstown has been able to maximize the funding for the best of our students through all means. … The resources were used wisely and in the best interests of the students of Greater Johnstown.”
Marten, a former teacher and educational administrator, frequently visits schools to see how funds for pandemic relief have been used.
“There’s nothing better than showing up in a (place), like Greater Johnstown School District, and seeing how federal investments are actually giving students more access to the kind of things they need for incredible learning conditions,” Marten said.
Marten then emphasized: “In the end, academic and achievement outcomes are going to improve because of the dollars that were invested here.”
Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.