Quick thread on schools and finances under COVID conditions for a minute before we get too far away from Worcester's vote last night
#WorcSchools #MAEdu
#WorcSchools #MAEdu
Because these are schools, I am quite certain we'll have an inevitable backlash that "we've gotten money" for managing coronavirus.
(insert here observation of how much backlash corporate funding gets)
ANYWAY
ANYWAY
First: This is true! Districts are getting ESSER funding (which they could use in FY20 or FY21). Districts in Massachusetts had to submit plans on what they'd do with the funds.
(Note: I am going to share Worcester's stuff here. Remember: we're the second largest district in Massachusetts. 25,000 kids, 4500 employees, 50 buildings. Don't let the size of the numbers throw you here)
Here's #WorcSchools submission; remember this is based off 80% of our Title I allocation. 
The PPE there isn't enough to get us through much of the year; see the estimates here on what that looks like.
Full year= $8.6M. Just for that.
But we can't just spend the ESSER funding on that, of course, because we *also* need to plan for things like going all remote again.
Full year= $8.6M. Just for that.
But we can't just spend the ESSER funding on that, of course, because we *also* need to plan for things like going all remote again.
BUT, Governor Baker then said last week that the state is releasing ADDITIONAL $225/pupil funding. For #WorcSchools (on the FY21 House 2 enrollment, that's another $5.6M.
...which is about what we'd need to get just the PPE needed for the year.
HOWEVER, as has been noted, that isn't all schools need to make an aspect of this work. There was a discussion several times last night about plexiglass partitions; there are furniture issues for spaces.
HOWEVER, as has been noted, that isn't all schools need to make an aspect of this work. There was a discussion several times last night about plexiglass partitions; there are furniture issues for spaces.
Those, again, are if you even HAVE space, which #Worcester and other districts do not. While the state went to a community appeal, that's rental costs, which would be astronomical.
oh, and buses, even if they existed (they don't), even if we had drivers (we don't), paying for multiple times as many as we have now?
And while #Worcester voted last night to focus planning on hybrid plans, these costs and more are going to be incurred by districts REGARDLESS of what path they take.
In short: have districts gotten funding? Yes.
Is it what is needed for districts to make this work? No.
/end thread #MAEdu
Is it what is needed for districts to make this work? No.
/end thread #MAEdu
@threadreaderapp unroll please
