Written by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: Dr. Pamela Pugh, president of the Michigan State Board of Education
After the U.S. Department of Education pulled back $41,974,900 in funding for pre-approved projects, which was expected to affect 27 school districts statewide, Pamela L. Pugh, president of the Michigan State Board of Education, shared with the Courier the board’s next steps.
“Let’s be honest; we’re dealing with an administration that does not regard laws and disregards the needs of children and families,” Pugh said. “But having said that, we are pushing back. The State of Michigan – Dr. Rice -is in contact with the U.S. Department of Education. Of course, we’re always in contact with our Attorney General’s Office – and we’re going to push back with all force that we have and make sure that this country-the Department of Education, who serves the people of this country, holds up to its contract, multiple contracts-but definitely this contract as it relates to addressing the needs of our school children, and our school children who are most in need, in communities like Flint. We believe we will prevail.”
The U.S. Department of Education was formed in 1979. Based on the 10th Amendment, schools and states have control of education within the states and local communities. But, the U.S. Department of Education is charged with is a huge amount of funding as it relates to children with special needs across the country, children in areas of need and English language learners. They are also in charge of civil rights and ensuring children are getting fair treatment and fair access to education. Pugh pointed out they are also charged with about 10 million children who are going on to continue their education.
“With COVID we know there were great needs that were exacerbated,” said Pugh. “There were great needs that were just further revealed, things that many of us already knew, especially in places like Flint. We knew that children needed counselors in the classrooms, mental health professionals, school nurses in the classroom. The Flint Water Crisis helped us to better understand those needs that were already there. Then, a pandemic that hit hardest communities like Flint definitely further illustrated that need.
“We also know that kids are going into school buildings that have been neglected for decades. Some of them don’t have HVAC systems. We know in Flint there are children who can’t go into buildings when the temperature gets too hot because there is no air in the summer, and there is no heat that adequately works in the winter. This is not just in Flint, but many of our school buildings.”
Pugh said the funds were intended to help in these areas, as well as others.
“The federal government in Michigan committed three tranches of dollars, some in the billions. When we first started it was hundreds of millions, then it was another tranche- a couple-two more tranches that were in the billions.”
Pugh stated that out of all the dollars that were given, what is remaining across the state that has not been reimbursed from the federal government is about 1% of those three tranches of allocations to address needs that were exacerbated or revealed during the pandemic.
The Courier was informed by Flint Community Schools that Flint Superintendent Kevelin Jones would be releasing official statement on April 3 or 4 regarding the recent memo related to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. We were also informed Flint Community Schools has successfully allocated 100 percent of its ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding and, after the September 30th deadline, did not have to return any funds to the state.
“Flint as well as many of the other 17 school districts, Flint in particular, has obligated the $15 million that we’re talking about, meaning they responsibly spent those dollars or obligated those dollars in a way that met the criteria of these funds,” stated Pugh. “…What we know is that the remaining dollars that we need to have as a state and as a district returned or given to Flint that have been obligated or spent is around $15 million. That does not mean that the work has not been doing, has not been underway by the district.”
On March 13, State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice and State Board of Education President Dr. Pamela Pugh said a lawsuit filed that day by 21 attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia was an important step in protecting students from the effects of massive job cuts in the U.S. Department of Education. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was part of the coalition that filed the lawsuit against the Trump Administration in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.
Regarding if the funds will eventually have to be given back, Pugh said: “We’re not even going to think like that. What we’re saying is that $40 million dollars, 27 districts, have received approval and have spent dollars and/or are obligated. They plan to continue to do that work to do what is needed for our children. We are putting children first, and we are demanding that our federal government do the same.”
