Democrats are pledging to enact a stimulus package by mid-March that would provide more funding to school districts.

The House is expected to vote on the American Rescue Plan this week.

Ossining Union Free School District is staring down a $5 million budget gap for next school year.

Superintendent Ray Sanchez says budget shortfalls existed long before COVID-19 hit, but the pandemic only made things worse.

Some aid to school districts like Ossining is expected in the next stimulus bill, which the House hopes to pass later this week. It includes nearly $130 billion for state education departments.

The funding is a temporary fix - just this school year, school districts faced a 20% cut in state funding.

So while this stimulus may be a shot of financial relief for school districts facing budget gaps this coming school year, school leaders are still waiting for financial stability long-term.

"We're worried about the fiscal cliff. So it's one thing to get past this year. You can't just look at your budget year to year, you got to start looking long-term," says Ossining Superintendent Raymond Sanchez.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is hoping the state will receive $15 billion from the federal stimulus package. Otherwise he says the state will have no choice but to make cuts to education.