A survey has found that school districts on Long Island outspent the rest of the state on coronavirus-related expenses to have schools safely reopen this fall.
The Association of School Business Officials of New York and the New York State School Boards Association surveyed school budget officials throughout the state.
They found that districts statewide spent about $500,000 to purchase personal protective equipment and laptops, hire more substitute teachers and part-time cleaners, and expand transportation to make sure in-person or remote learning was possible this fall.
On Long Island, the average school district spent $1.1 million. And collectively, they spent more than $24 million in total. That means Long Island schools spent close to $370 per student, while the rest of the state spent $200.
That also means Long Island schools might have had to tap into their savings and cut costs elsewhere to make ends meet. And schools with larger student bodies — and the most need — might not have been able to make these purchases.
