Michigan education officials cry foul after US abruptly cuts off COVID funds

Districts had till September 30, 2024, to finish the expenditure for the latest fund spherical and needed to finish the cash January 2025 unless they received an extension.

Whereas he’s nonetheless beneath the Biden administration, the US Division of Schooling Based on the Michigan Division of Schooling, had granted an extension of 28 March 2026 to request reimbursements for funds.

However the American Minister of Schooling Linda McMahon despatched one Letter to the leaders of the state school On Friday saying that the deadline for reimbursement requests had been modified in 5 pm on March 28, 2025, the identical day because the letter.

“The Division has concluded that the additional extension of the liquidation interval for the aforementioned subsidies, far past the interval of efficiency, was not justified,” mentioned McMahon within the letter. “You and your subrecipients have had sufficient time to liquidate obligations.”

States can request venture -specific extensions in the event that they submit details about “how the enlargement of a sure venture is required to cut back the consequences of COVID on the schooling of American college students,” and why the USDoe ought to make the request, McMahon mentioned in her letter.

State inspector Michael Rice mentioned on Monday in a press release that the choice was ‘unacceptable’. The Michigan Division of Schooling mentioned that it obtained McMahon’s letter shortly after 5 pm on Friday, which signifies that the deadline had already handed.

“With out the promised date of March 2026 for federal reimbursement requests, districts may be pressured to cut back the directions for college kids, scale back financial savings, or each to honor these contracts,” Rice mentioned.

“We have been amazed by the sudden restoration of financing for COVID-19 Funds that had beforehand been authorized,” mentioned Pontiac Faculty District Interim Superintendent Kimberly Leverette.

“The potential affect on our district is appreciable, as a result of nearly all of our $ 3.3 million is devoted to tasks which were accomplished and now we have paid,” mentioned Leverette. “We’re at present submitting a reimbursement of these tasks. The dearth of warning for this transformation is unnecessarily painful for all concerned and has brought on a substantial monetary stress and concern about provides and significant sources that we have been satisfied that they have been authorized.”

Woodhaven-Brownstown Faculty District is deliberate to make HVAC-Upgrades to the Higher Elementary Faculty this summer time and his HVAC system of highschool was upgraded final summer time, Chief Inspector Mark Greathead informed Bridge.

“It isn’t the kind of venture that may merely be performed in the course of a faculty 12 months,” mentioned Greathead.

He mentioned that the tasks are a part of an eight -year plan to improve buildings.

“No matter occurs, we’re dedicated to this venture. And if we can’t use these {dollars}, the {dollars} will come from someplace else and it’ll at all times have a domino impact within the classroom.”

“These tasks funded by the federal government are vital for college kids and workers in our districts in Michigan and all through the nation,” mentioned President Pamela Pugh of the state administration in a press release. “So as to not cancel the approval of financing on any notification and to inform districts that they will request a second approval from the US Division of Schooling to realize entry to those funds, with numerous standards, has nothing to do with service to highschool youngsters.”