WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) announced the successful inclusion of nearly $1.4 million in federal community project funding for Randolph and Milton in the FY2022 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) Appropriations bill. Funding would support the construction of a school-based health center at Randolph High School and culturally responsive learning resources for Randolph and Milton Public Schools. 

Rep. Pressley has been advocating for these projects through Congress’ new Community Project Funding initiative.

“COVID-19 has laid bare the stark inequities in our public health and education systems, especially in hard-hit communities like Randolph and Milton,” said Rep. Pressley. “Funding these three projects would help bring needed accessible, trusted, and experienced health care services to Randolph residents, while also helping our most vulnerable Randolph and Milton students receive a high-quality, culturally sensitive education that prepares them for college and careers of their choice. Town Manager Howard, Superintendent Stovell, Superintendent Jette, and our advocates have been critical partners throughout this process, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to see these projects across the finish line.”

“This much-needed school-based health center will make immeasurable contributions toward the health of Randolph’s youth and families,” said Randolph Town Manager Brian Howard. Randolph’s insufficient health services became acutely evident during the COVID pandemic, during which Randolph was a hot spot. This new health center in Randolph’s High School will build up our local health care infrastructure, increasing our ability to meet health care needs and be more prepared in crisis.”  

“On behalf of Randolph Public Schools, I want to thank Congresswoman Pressley for her diligence, hard work and leadership with this much needed initiative,” said Thea Stovell, Superintendent of Randolph Public Schools. “Our students and their families have always been and will continue to be our top priority and having a school based health center will address the specific, individual, and collective needs of our students and families. We couldn’t be more grateful for this tremendous opportunity!”

“On behalf of the Milton Public Schools and our students, I would like to thank Congresswoman Pressley for her commitment to ensuring the educational opportunities for our students especially after an unprecedented year with so much unfinished learning due to the pandemic,” said James F. Jette, Superintendent of Milton Public Schools. “As a district, we feel strongly about the need for the Math/Reading Learning Assessment and Instruction Tools under the Community Project Funding FY 22 grant program and we are thrilled that Congresswoman Pressley shares this sentiment and values the initiative. Through her strong advocacy for this necessary funding and programming, we hope to provide our students with ongoing learning opportunities and the necessary support to be successful throughout the summer months and beyond!”

“Codman Square Health Center is pleased to hear of the Town of Randolph’s community project funding award for a school-based health center at Randolph High School,” said Sandra Cotterell, Codman Square Health Center’s CEO. “We are grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s advocacy to secure such funding, as we currently serve over 1,200 residents from Randolph and operate Codman Eye Associates, an optometric practice and optical shop in town. Codman Square Health Center provides affordable, culturally competent health services to all, and we are looking forward to partnering with Randolph to expand our services for both students and community members.”

“The absence of a health center in Randolph exacerbates health inequities and health care costs,” said Metropolitan Area Planning Council Executive Director Marc Draisen, whose organization facilitates the Randolph Community Wellness Project. “With no health center in Randolph, there is a significant gap in financially and culturally accessible health care.”

If passed, the following projects will receive funding:

• School Based Community Health Center at Randolph High School – $1,000,000
  Project Sponsor: Town of Randolph
  Location: Randolph, MA
  Description: The funding would be used to cover costs associated with construction at Randolph High School that are an essential first step in creating the Randolph School Based Community Health Center. This project would mitigate healthcare costs by redesigning primary care to improve access, provide accessible alternative sites for non-urgent primary care, and ensure successful patient outcomes through continuity of care.
• Culturally Relevant and Digital Literacy for Equity – $275,000
  Project Sponsor: Randolph Public Schools
  Location: Randolph, MA
  Description:  The funding would be used to purchase technology and culturally relevant read-aloud books that support the goal of offering a more equitable and relevant literacy curriculum to students in Randolph public schools.
• Math and Reading Learning Assessment and Instruction Tools – $100,000
  Project Sponsor: Milton Public Schools 
  Location: Milton, MA
  Description: The funding would be to address unfinished teaching and learning by purchasing new, personalized, and data-driven curriculum and professional development for teachers to utilize this curriculum. These funds would help educators identify specific gaps in learning and address the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of children of color, children from lower socio-economic families, English language learners, and children with special needs.

These three projects are among the ten Community Project Funding requests submitted by Rep. Pressley to the Appropriations Committee. Information on the status of additional requests will be announced in the coming days. To read more about Rep. Pressley’s Community Project Funding requests, click here. To watch her testify before the Appropriations Committee in support of her requests, click here.

The inclusion of this funding in the FY22 House Labor HHS Appropriations bill is the first step in the funding process, and Rep. Pressley will continue fighting for this funding as the bill moves forward for consideration on the House Floor.

Rep. Pressley was also successful in securing over $18.5 million in federal funding in the House Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill, the INVEST in America Act, which will support several projects championed by the Congresswoman through the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee. The INVEST in America Act passed the House earlier this month, and included several other priorities championed by Rep. Pressley.

# # #