Linda McMahon says Dept. of Education can only be closed by Congress
President Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary faced questions about federal funding for low-income schools, school choice and more.
At least 27 school districts across Michigan stand to lose as much as $42 million in pandemic aid after Linda McMahon, the newly appointed federal education secretary, told education leaders she would rescind a federal aid deadline extension.
McMahon issued a letter Friday to state education chiefs announcing the move, writing that “extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion.”
Michigan state school Superintendent Michael Rice decried the action in a news release Monday.
“Walking back a federal commitment to pandemic relief funds to improve the air quality, healthfulness, and safety of schools coming out of the pandemic is unacceptable,” Rice wrote.
In the statement, Rice wrote the state had already approved 27 districts to use the funds on HVAC improvement projects, as well as window upgrades. The districts have already entered into contracts with the notion that those projects would be reimbursed with federal funds, according to the Michigan Department of Education’s news release.
Rice wrote that to honor these contracts, districts may have to reduce classroom spending for students, dip into savings or both.
“A change in administrations should not void previous commitments,” he wrote.
The federal education department previously told states they would have another year to spend the money, according to reporting by nonprofit education news outlet The 74.
How much could districts lose?
Flint Community Schools stands to lose the most funding, $15.6 million, according to the state. A district spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the state, the following other have federal funds in jeopardy:
- Battle Creek Public Schools has $3.3 million in outstanding American Rescue Plan reimbursements.
- Benton Harbor Area Schools has nearly $3 million, according to Superintendent Kelvin Butts.
- Bridgeport-Spaulding Schools, more than $500,000.
- Brighton Area Schools, $1.2 million.
- Chandler Park Academy, $1 million.
- Hamtramck School District, $7.2 million.
- Lincoln Park School District, $1.4 million.
- Pontiac School District, $3.3 million.
- Port Huron Area Schools, nearly $500,000.
- Reed City Area Schools, nearly $59,000.
- Woodhaven-Brownstown Schools, $1.3 million.
- Adrian Public Schools, $7,300 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Carman-Ainsworth Comm. Schools, $235,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Grandville Public Schools, nearly $25,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Greenville Public Schools, $24,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Insight School of Michigan, $33,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Marquette Area Public Schools, nearly $10,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Marysville Public Schools, nearly $370,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy, nearly $80,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Northville Public Schools, nearly $63,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- River Rouge, City School District, nearly $29,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Royal Oak Schools, nearly $45,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Van Buren Public Schools, $90,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Wayland Union Schools, $66,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- West Bloomfield School District, $734,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements.
- Whiteford Agricultural School District, $98,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements
Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com.