How will they spend the money?
Oh?
The kids are coming back come September…..
And so are the teachers…..
At least the ones that didn’t retire due to the pandemic….
Which means more new teachers to be hired….
This summer, school-district administrators are asking their communities to ponder an unusual question: What do we do with all of this money?
For many districts accustomed to tight budgets, the influx of a historic level of federal funding has created a high-stakes opportunity to develop new learning opportunities and, many leaders hope, forge long-term change with short-term funding.
Most of these funds are landing directly in the coffers of school districts, and the Education Department has required administrators to ask parents, teachers, students, organizations and community members for input before many must submit spending plans in August.
Common requests include more time for learning—either through a longer school year or school day, or after-school tutoring. Some communities are pushing for increased mental-health resources, such as added counselors, as many students return after being remote for much of the year because of the pandemic. Others want smaller class sizes or new enrichment activities.
This summer, school-district administrators are asking their communities to ponder an unusual question: What do we do with all of this money?
For many districts accustomed to tight budgets, the influx of a historic level of federal funding has created a high-stakes opportunity to develop new learning opportunities and, many leaders hope, forge long-term change with short-term funding.
Most of these funds are landing directly in the coffers of school districts, and the Education Department has required administrators to ask parents, teachers, students, organizations and community members for input before many must submit spending plans in August.
Common requests include more time for learning—either through a longer school year or school day, or after-school tutoring. Some communities are pushing for increased mental-health resources, such as added counselors, as many students return after being remote for much of the year because of the pandemic. Others want smaller class sizes or new enrichment activities….
…
“Parents will want the money used one way. Teachers will want the money used the other way. Taxpayers who don’t have children in the school will want the money to be used in a different way,” said Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, the School Superintendents Association.
Many district leaders say they are acting cautiously, avoiding recurring costs such as salary boosts or hiring sprees that could be difficult to sustain when the money runs out….