![]() ![]() "We have to be very specific on seeing how the systems are handling it and what the needs are and you just basically have to see that after they approach it with their plan and see where the shortcomings are," says Elmore, who is also an elementary school teacher in Wilkes County. He says it's hard to plan for what the costs will be when so much is up in the air. Representative Jeffrey Elmore is a Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee. That can dictate how and when it’s spent. It's a complicated process - several pots of money distributed to different departments. As of late July, more than $726 million has been allocated for K-12 public schools.īut not all of it for trickles directly down to districts. There's been federal CARES ACT funding to help North Carolina during the pandemic. That includes thermometers, facemasks, and gowns. The state has sent PPE starter packs, providing a two-month supply for nurses and staff to conduct health screenings. "Districts and schools could face cuts in staff allotments and other funding tied to student enrollment if hold harmless provisions aren’t made," said Contreras. ![]() What if headcounts shrink, or enrollment surges when they do reenter buildings? That's why local districts are pushing for the state legislature to hold school districts harmless, meaning not penalizing them financially for enrollment changes.Īngie Henry and Whitney Oakley with Guilford County Schools explain some of the challenges districts are facing to implement safety requirements. More students equals more in their budget. School leaders also worry about fluctuations in enrollment that could impact how much money the state allots to their district. And we don’t know where this virus is going, if schools will reopen."Ĭontreras says the district would need an estimated nearly $100 million to fully reopen buildings. "No district in this country has the answers to this," said Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras. ![]() Instead, students will begin the first nine weeks remotely. But this large urban district has scrapped that method for now. This is what it would look like under Governor Roy Cooper’s Plan B, a mix of in-person classes and remote learning. Decorations are minimal and no books or other shared supplies can be found. No carpet or fabric chairs are in this classroom. "These would be way too close together for kids to sit and each lunch together in a cafeteria," says Oakley. There are many challenges ahead to keep students learning and everyone safe and all of it comes with a price tag.Īt Sternberger Elementary School in Greensboro, Chief Academic Officer Whitney Oakley shows how they made space for social distancing and desks - a cafeteria turned into a classroom. As schools decide whether or not to hold class in person or online, one big question is at the root of it all - how much is it going to cost? The funding debate has been front and center, from the federal level down to the state and local districts, each playing its own part in planning for the next school year. ![]()
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