Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (D-Rotterdam) has secured $50,000 in state funding that will enable the Greater Amsterdam School District to hire a behavior specialist for their students.

The behavior specialist will work at Lynch Literacy Academy and the Amsterdam High School, helping students address issues outside of school so they can be successful in the classroom. Currently, the district has one behavior specialist serving five schools.

“This funding is a critical part of my effort to ensure that our local schools have the resources they need to give our children a quality education. Addressing the obstacles that children face outside of the classroom will help them focus on learning and give them the best opportunity to succeed in school,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.

“This grant is certainly moving the Greater Amsterdam School District in the right direction,” said Greater Amsterdam School District Superintendent Thomas F. Perillo. “It’s a significant addition and a credit to Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, for understanding the financial struggle in Amsterdam and in other schools across the state.”

The school district is hoping to fill the new position by the start of the new school year.