Funding technology through Smart Schools

New York voters in 2014 approved the statewide Smart Schools Bond Act referendum, which authorized the state to borrow up to $2 billion to finance technology improvements in schools throughout the state. The City School District of Albany was allocated $7,946,807 in Smart Schools funding, and we are now preparing two new submissions intended to support the Albany High School capital project. Our most recent plan was presented at our March 12 Board of Education meeting, outlining how $2.9 million of funds will be used for school security and safety. Next, we will submit our plans to the New York State Education Department after a 30-day comment period, a public hearing at a future Board of Education meeting and final board approval, anticipated in April. State Education Department approval is anticipated by the middle of this year. Our finalized plan for this submission is available for download via BoardDocs. What have we used Smart Schools funding for previously? The first submission of the district’s plan, in 2016, outlined how the district would use these funds to improve school connectivity, increase the amount of technology in the classrooms and support improvements to high-tech security features, totaling $2,400,618. The second submission, in 2020, described how the district would use these funds to increase the amount of technology in the classrooms, specifically Chromebooks, because of the need for virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, totaling $1,640,549. The third submission, in 2025, focused on implementing new end-user technology and school security at Albany High School.