Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Smart Schools Bond Funds Ed Tech and Infrastructure in 90 Districts

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/16/19

New York has announced the latest round of districts and schools to receive funding through the "Smart Schools Bond Act." That bond was passed in 2014-2015 and approved the issuing of some $2 billion in general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure.

The latest allocation, round 13, covered $85 million in projects from 90 school districts and three special education schools. Projects included $26.3 million for high-tech security projects (for 49 recipients), $25.6 million for school connectivity projects (with 33 grantees), $18.5 million for classroom technology purchases (involving 48 districts), $9.9 million for pre-kindergarten classrooms (for two school systems), and $4.2 million for the removal of transportable classroom units (TCUs) (for one recipient).

The largest amount allocated was $10,200,000, which went to Yonkers Public Schools for construction of pre-K classrooms and to replace TCUs. The smallest grants went to Elba Central School District (CSD) ($20,197) for replacement of TCUs, and Villa of Hope ($20,211) for new classroom tech.

Among the projects approved were these:

  • $2.1 million to Whitesboro CSD to upgrade an "antiquated network infrastructure" in five schools;

  • $457,000 to Bradford CSD, to run fiber optic cabling throughout the district boundaries and facilitate several wireless access points along the route to deliver connectivity to a community where 90 percent of student households lack access to minimal broadband services;

  • $1.2 million for Alden CSD to purchase additional Windows 10 devices for grades 5-12 and additional iPads for K-2, along with staff devices over the next four years;

  • $3.9 million for pre-K classrooms at Bay Shore Schools, which will enable the district to begin a new full-day program for all three-year-olds in the district at a dedicated facility and free up space currently being used by outside contractors that provide the pre-K programs;

  • $1.2 million for Allegany-Limestone CSD, to update the fire alarm system in two of its schools and add new access control systems; and

  • $4.2 million to the Yonkers school system to replace four existing TCUs with building additions onto two of hits schools. (The remaining $6 million the district is receiving will be dedicated to classroom construction projects.)

"The Smart Schools program expands learning opportunities, provides advanced technology and connectivity in classrooms across New York, and brings the curriculum into the 21st century," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, in a statement. "This significant investment for tech upgrades in schools is ensuring that students have the skills they need in the global innovation and tech economy. We must continue to take steps to modernize our classrooms and give every student an equal opportunity to succeed."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Designing for Every Mind

    Learning environments have the power to shape not just what students know, but who they become. When a school is designed with genuine empathy—for the full range of ways students think, sense, and engage with the world—it becomes more than a building. It becomes a catalyst for growth, confidence, and belonging. That is the animating idea behind neurodiverse design, and it is one that is transforming how more architects and designers are thinking about school design.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.