East Greenbush, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced that she secured $70 million in funding for the Department of Defense Impact Aid program which supports school districts affected by military installations across the United States, including the Indian River and Carthage School Districts in Jefferson County, New York. 

“I’m proud to have helped secure $70 million for the Department of Defense Impact Aid program through this year’s appropriations process. Significant portions of this funding will go to school districts in the Fort Drum community, including the Indian River and Carthage School Districts, where they will support high quality education in Jefferson County,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

"Impact Aid allows the Carthage Central School District to provide a multitude of diverse opportunities for students, both academic and extracurricular,” said Jennifer Premo, Superintendent of Schools for the Carthage Central School District. “Aid of this type helps to stabilize staffing in spite of changing enrollment which is a characteristic common to military connected schools. Additionally, this federal funding supports lower classroom sizes throughout the District, especially in our lower grade levels, increasing individualized instruction. The Carthage Central School District is very grateful for Impact Aid as it reduces the tax burden on our local community."

###