Nassau Legislature To Pass Bills For COVID Funds For Educators

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The Nassau County Legislature is expected to pass a pair of measures that would increase COVID funding to educational institutions.

The two bills were passed by legislative committees today, and will move on to the meeting of the full Legislature later this month. One would provide aid to public, private and charter schools, and the second would send money to the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extenstion Board (VEEB).

The funding for the plans does not come from taxpayers. The funding for schools comes from the Centers for Disease Control, and was given to the county as part of a grant. The funding for VEEB comes from the federal American Rescue Plan.

The first bill would allow the county executive to award grants to schools to help pay for COVID mitigation, screening and testing programs in order to keep in-person learning. Public schools would be eligible for grants of up to $150,000. Non-public schools can get grants of up to $15,000, and any non-public school with fewer than 10 students could get up to $10,000. The money would be awarded by the county Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management.

Schools could use the funds to hire staff, purchase COVID testing equipment and supplies, purchase protective equipment and cleaning supplies, funding public health events to spread awareness of COVID, and more.

The second bill would allow VEEB to use American Rescue Plan money to address the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as mitigate financial hardships caused by higher operating costs and supply chain problems.

VEEB is a qualifying 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that operates a special school district licensed by the New York State Department of Education to conduct courses in occupational skills and related topics. Its operating divisions include a School of Practical Nursing, the Nassau County Emergency Medical Services Academy, a Public Fire Safety Education Division and the Nassau County Fire Service Academy.

Both bills will be put to the full legislature at its meeting on June 27, where officials say they're expected to pass.