Austintown Elementary School head custodian Tracy Parker uses a cordless electrostatic hand-held sprayer to disinfect desks before schools closed in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff photo / Allie Vugrincic

The State Controlling Board has approved the release of coronavirus relief aid to support local schools across Mahoning County as they prepare for the start of the upcoming school year.

“Schools are facing certain hardships as they get ready for the new academic year due to the pandemic,” said state Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield. “This funding will be crucial as it will be dispersed to schools throughout our communities to help when it comes to dealing with COVID-19.”

The board’s action released $100 million for Ohio schools.

Valley public, charter, religious and specialized schools, working through their own plans for in-classroom instruction, online learning — or some mix of both — will get pieces of that.

The school aid is being distributed based on enrollment, with additional funding to support students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students, as well as transportation obligations.

Denise Dick, director of communications and public relations for the Youngstown City Schools, said while the Youngstown district has decided to go with online learning for the upcoming school year, it will use the funds for purchasing Chromebooks, iPads and other technology for the students to use at their homes. Funding also will be used to provide the needed training to help prepare teachers and other staff with the skills to teach online using the different technology.

She said last March staff were thrown in at the last minute to having to instruct online and will now be better prepared with the training and skills to provide that instruction to students.

Austintown schools Superintendent David Cappuzzello said he and the district treasurer will sit down with the board of education on how to use the money. He noted there is going to be a wide variety of costs associated with the reopening of schools.

“There is already professional development for our teachers to help them to instruct the students this year, which can be a combination of in-person and online learning,” he said.

Cappuzzello said there are also costs for keeping students and staff safe with hand sanitizing areas, thermometers for taking temperatures of students and staff, and plexiglass and dividers separating desks and tables.

“It is great that the state is helping us with the costs for the safety measures we need to have in place, because there are going to be so many different expenses for schools as they open for the new year and what we will have to deal with,” he said.

According to the Ohio Office of Budget and Management, the federal coronavirus relief aid can be used for a variety of needs, including protective equipment, cleaning and sanitation, and remote learning.

According to Cutrona, these are the school district allocations approved by the board within Mahoning County:

Austintown – $235,685

Boardman – $226,435

Campbell – $63,641

Canfield – $126,753

Jackson-Milton – $45,420

Lowellville – $23,014

Poland – $84,993

Sebring – $24,601

South Range – $61,034

Springfield – $47,624

Struthers – $86,899

West Branch – $115,468

Western Reserve – $36,444

Youngstown – $375,289

Academy for Urban Scholars Youngstown – $9,807

Horizon Science Academy Youngstown – $17,352

Mahoning County High School – $3,822

Mahoning Unlimited Classroom – $530

Southside Academy – $7,417

Stambaugh Charter Academy – $23,756

Summit Academy Secondary – Youngstown – $19,954

Summit Academy-Youngstown – $25,250

Youngstown Academy of Excellence – $8,870

Youngstown Community School – $14,827

Mahoning County Board – $14,983

Mahoning Career and Tech – $35,275

ACLD School – $4,433

Akiva Academy – $5,618

Cardinal Mooney – $12,277

Hitchcock Woods – $118

Holy Family – $9,159

Islamic Academy of Youngstown – $1,201

Potential Development/Autism – $11,149

St Charles – $9,157

St Christine – $10,540

St Joseph The Provider – $6,179

St Nicholas – $6,368

The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley – $2,769

Ursuline – $13,927

Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten – $915

Valley Christian School – $26,582

Valley STEM+ME2 Academy – $9,303

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