MORRISTOWN — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will stand at Morristown Central School, 408 Gouverneur St., tomorrow (Friday, March 19) at 10:25 a.m. to call for legislation to expand community school funding and bolster services for low-income and underserved students, families, and communities.

According to a press release from Gillibrand’s office, the Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2021 would deliver more than $3.6 billion to expand community schools in New York State and around the country.

Proponents of the legislation say it could provide integrated student support, expanded and enriched learning opportunities, collaborative leadership, and family and community engagement. This would include medical, mental, and nutrition health services, mentoring and youth development programs, and continuing education courses.

Currently, the Full-Service Community Schools grant program is funded at just $30 million and Gillibrand says it does not have adequate funding to serve New York school districts in need of resources to establish community schools or support those already established.

The American Rescue Plan delivered funding to support schools and students throughout this crisis, but Gillibrand said more resources are needed to expand community schools and meet heightened student needs.

The St. Lawrence County Health Initiative and the Morristown Central School District recently applied for funding through the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) Program to form the Full-Service Community Schools Consortium of St. Lawrence County.

The funding would help serve the larger community and bridge academic and non-academic equity gaps for rural students, the press release said.

Senator Gillibrand will be joined by Staci A. Vaughn, Superintendent of Morristown Central School District, Anne Marie Snell, Executive Director of the St. Lawrence County Health Initiative, and Patrick Brady, Superintendent of Massena Central School District.