By Sofia Bellafiore

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Batavia Public Schools was awarded a grant of $1.13m in relief funding. This will be the second funding package to be approved by federal lawmakers, a package that was approved in December 2020. 

Anton Inglese, Batavia High School’s CEO, said there are several uncertainties regarding the money. 

“We’re not sure yet (how we will use the money),” Inglese said. “In fact, we still don’t know how much the district will receive.  Regardless, the money will likely be used on HVAC improvements at the middle and high schools for systems that are beyond their useful life cycle.  Our Resource Responsibility Advisory Council will review options and make a recommendation to the Board of Education, who will make the final decision.”

According to Illinois superintendent of education, Carmen Ayala, the state will be getting more than four times the amount of funding that they did for the first stimulus package. Out of the $900 billion, Illinois public schools have received $2.2 billion. 

The article said that the Illinois State Board of Education made suggestions about how the school district should spend these given funds. Some of those being “learning opportunities, mental health support, and closing the digital divide.”

Batavia High School has its own needs such as, “improvements for HVAC systems and the LRC, and wheelchair accessibility at Bulldog Stadium.”

Although there are obvious needs at BHS, Inglese explained that “Decisions such as these will likely be made after we receive more guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health.”