Dr. Laura Feijoo, superintendent of New Rochelle schools, says adapting to the new normal hasn't been easy.

“It’s never going to replace interaction in a classroom atmosphere with teachers,” says Dr. Feijoo of distance learning. “It’s been certainly a challenge because you are rethinking everything you know about education."

In the past two months, New Rochelle teachers have begun teaching live online twice a week and have implemented a system to encourage student participation.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced that summer school will be virtual this year due to the pandemic, but the New Rochelle district isn’t worried about that - they’re worried about the funding.

"We need that money to stay in place from the state because of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we need more money not less,” says Dr. Feijoo.

The district's Board of Education approved a $283 million budget on Thursday for the 2020-2021 school year.

It comes after other districts across the region wait to learn how much state aid they may lose from the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the governor, funding could be 20 percent less than what had previously been assured.

The district will host a virtual public hearing on the proposed budget on May 28.

Residents may vote on the budget through absentee ballots; they have until 5 p.m. on June 9 to mail it in.

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