In the course of the Wednesday listening to, state Rep. Randy Tremendous, the Home’s Okay-12 finances author, took goal on the “avalanche” of cash
In the course of the Wednesday listening to, state Rep. Randy Tremendous, the Home’s Okay-12 finances author, took goal on the “avalanche” of cash college districts — and DOE — are sitting on. Given the potential inflow of extra money from a Democratic-controlled Congress, the Melbourne Seaside Republican mentioned he is involved about pouring extra cash into districts that have not demonstrated they know the way to make use of it and pledged to conduct a dive deeper of the spending.
“Our colleges have been drowning in federal funding,” Tremendous mentioned. “Covid, it seems, is the best booster for Okay-12 schooling within the historical past of public schooling.”
Background: DeSantis is pushing for rising schooling spending by $285.5 million, funneling the brand new money into priorities akin to elevating trainer salaries and bettering pupil psychological well being packages in a $22.eight billion Okay-12 finances proposal launched final month. The Republican governor credited federal Covid-19 support as a key issue behind his schooling finances showing considerably rosier than anticipated, however his spending plan additionally accounts for Florida enrolling practically 50,000 fewer college students subsequent college 12 months, highlighting how monitoring pupil counts will probably be a important concern for the Legislature in 2021.
Spending hole: Lawmakers on the Home PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee had been fast to notice the disparity between how a lot funding districts have disbursed regionally. For instance, Sarasota County has spent 89 % of its share of CARES Act money whereas counties akin to Lee and Wakulla have solely spent 10 %, the state information exhibits.
DOE defended how districts are spending the stimulus support, with officers testifying that many faculties are budgeting the cash month-to-month. Colleges are placing the money towards hiring extra nurses, or shopping for month-to-month orders of cleansing provides, Alex Kelly, the chief of workers to Schooling Commissioner Richard Corcoran, advised the panel.
“These funds are supposed to final them doubtlessly up via September 2022,” Kelly mentioned. “Most college districts … are utilizing these funds on a scheduled foundation all through the varsity 12 months.”