Among active parents, word is beginning to spread that local school districts are in line to receive their largest shares of covid-relief aid.
But their leaders are reluctant to discuss these infusions of federal taxpayer support and relief.
Saginaw City Superintendent Ramont Roberts says, “I am not prepared to speak to how we are going to utilize those funds. We are still in the planning phase.”
Bridgeport Superintendent Mark Whelton says, “Thank you for reaching out. Once plans are finalized under the guidelines, I will be happy to share those.”
Both declined to outline their districts’ covid-related spending to date, anything from home-schooling technologies to air purifiers for classrooms. Also, of course, to reveal details after a plan is approved forecloses public participation along the way.
But at least Roberts and Whelton answered the Michigan Banner survey. Saginaw Township Superintendent Bruce Martin and Carrollton Superintendent Rachel Snell provided no responses at all, which involved four attempts at inquiry during the past week.
Republicans, Whitmer clash
Indeed, one reason for an uncertain and delayed outlook is confrontation between state Republican lawmakers and Democrats led by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, similar to conflicts in Washington between the GOP and President Biden. Federal aid is steered through state governments, and Lansing Republicans are aiming to impose rules, ranging from more school hours to higher student test scores, while Whitmer and Dems oppose blocking the money.
Initial federal funds were approved during the first covid outbreak in March 2020, during a brief period of cooperation between Donald Trump and Congress. This is known as CARES, the Covid Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, covering not only schools but overall items such as stimulus and unemployment checks, and business support.
Larger sums from newly elected President Biden and Democrats came forth earlier this year, over Republican objections, entitled ESSER, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act, otherwise known as the American Rescue Plan.
According to the Michigan Education Justice Coalition, combined federal aid so far is:
- Saginaw School District, 5,275 students, $67 million
- Saginaw Township schools, 4,865 students, $5.9 million
- Bridgeport schools, 1,515 students, $10.7 million
- Carrollton schools, 1,815 students, $3.1 million
Why are Saginaw city schools receiving so much more money, per pupil, than the inner suburbs? The answer is because the funding formula is based on anti-poverty federal “Title I” standards, and this has created another source of controversy, with middle-income and even moderate-poor districts claiming they are shortchanged.
But this dispute is mainly internal among educators. The primary issues are (1) how much money might Republicans block, and (2) how will the local districts spend the new funds they eventually receive?
Expectations rise
Stories already are circulating that schools will receive funds in excess of covid needs. One Saginaw parent, for example, has pushed for money to support First Ward Community Center and to help rescue the Neighborhood House, now known as “The Neighb”. Past school boards never have bankrolled community centers, although City Hall formerly operated the Civitan and Merrill Park centers.
One stipulation is that at least 20 percent of funds address “learning loss” during pandemic times, which is considered more severe among children in poverty and/or in special education. The Michigan Department of Education describes “broad permissive lists of allowable” spending, with “considerable flexibility.”
Obvious covid-related categories include PPE (personal protective equipment), cleaning and sanitizing products, ventilating and air purifying, and home computers for virtual classroom learning. Many of those investments began immediately in March 2020 and remain ongoing.
There are gray areas. Facility repairs with special funds are intended to address “student health hazards,” for example, but to what degree? After-school and summer school classes, along with family mental health services, may address covid-caused “learning loss,” but educators would desire to offer these special efforts, pandemic or no pandemic.
Parents who wish to conduct further research may Google-hunt with a phrase as simple as “michigan school covid funds rules.” Also, the Saginaw Ezekiel Project website will host “Virtual Lobby Week” May 25, 26 and 27.
