Ossining School District Urges Residents to Complete Census

Today is Census Day, and the Ossining School District is reminding residents to make sure they are counted so that our community and schools receive the funding they are due.

The 2020 Census counts every person living in the United States and its five territories on April 1. The U.S. Census Bureau continues to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the first census in which respondents can fill out the survey online or by phone. They can do so in 13 languages, including English and Spanish. The agency mails a paper form to every household that does not respond to the mailers that asked them to participate online or by phone.

Millions of dollars in federal funding, grants and support for Ossining schools is based on census counts, so having less than 100% participation would hurt the community. Census results are used to determine how $675 billion in federal funds is distributed each year for vital education, health care, transportation, housing and other programs. They are also the basis for determining congressional and state districts.

“For the good of our school system and community, I urge everyone to spend a few minutes completing the questionnaire online or by phone,” Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said.

The Ossining Complete Count Committee has been working to dispel myths about the census. The questionnaire does not ask any questions about citizenship, and federal law prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing any identifiable information it collected with law enforcement, the court system or other government agencies.

The goal in every community is to have 100% participation. As of Monday, 35.7% of Ossining town residents and 31.3% of village residents had responded to the census. The response rate for Briarcliff Manor was 47.1%. The statewide average response rate was 31.1%, compared to the nationwide rate of 36.2%.

"It is important that people know it is their civic duty to participate in the census and to be counted," said Alita Zuber, the school district's assistant superintendent for business.

The Census Bureau is encouraging respondents to share on social media that they completed the census, and encourage friends and connections to do the same.

For more information about the Census in Ossining, visit https://ossiningufsd.org/district/census-2020/.