As schools work harder, state hoards funds

As if schoolchildren and teachers do not have enough to worry about after the pandemicdriven year of disruption, unpredictability and stress, our state has withheld federal funds provided to Texas school districts for recovery and restoration.

The Northside Independent School District board of trustees is demanding the entirety of these funds flow to districts across Texas so the immense task of funding in-depth plans for our children’s recovery continues in the best ways possible.

Congress swiftly acknowledged the pandemic’s strain on public schools as they quickly pivoted to virtual “classrooms” last year to keep students and teachers safe, healthy and learning. The CARES Act offered funding called Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, to assist districts facing a deluge of new costs, such as protective personal equipment, sanitizing solutions, educator resources and training, technological devices and internet access so students could learn, teachers could instruct from home and schools could provide curbside meals for hungry students.

Our staff and trustees were elated to hear that $1.3 billion in stimulus aid was reserved for school districts.

Unfortunately, we still haven’t seen a dime of discretionary funding. Instead, the state decided to use those federal dollars to fulfill its own obligations to fund public education. It sent stimulus

funds to schools but withheld the same amount of state funding, leaving districts to fend for themselves. This is an accounting ploy called “supplanting.”

In December, the second round of federal aid for school districts was announced. At that time, $5.5 billion in ESSER funding was approved. Like the CARES Act, the federal government’s intent was for these dollars to serve as supplemental funding and go directly to school districts to help manage costs associated with the pandemic.

The news of this relief package was timely as school districts were closing out the first semester

of the 2020-21 school year while facing a harsh reality — students’ loss of learning opportunities and access to classrooms, along with their social, emotional and mental health needs, were massive.

The new year came with a renewed sense of urgency, determination, optimism, and planning for mitigating, recovering and expanding learning — and offering wellness opportunities — as the new budget season occurred. Plans include intensive remediation and high-dosage tutoring for select students that extend beyond the school day and year.

Supporting students with smaller group instruction, additional resources and more time means more teachers and repurposed classroom models. Already, the summer programs slated for Northside ISD cost three times as much as they did last summer because three times as many students need support.

Districts also recognize that the demand for increased mental, social and emotional health, and wrap-around services for students, families and educators will require more educator training, quality resources and trained personnel. Furthermore, ensuring updated and supportive technological tools and increased broadband access for all students continues to be a priority, along with bringing back students who have seemingly disappeared.

Sadly, the much-needed federal relief — about $264 million — directed to our students still has not materialized. As April begins, this funding for NISD students and teachers remains inaccessible.

The state has dragged its feet. The 87th Texas Legislature is more than halfway through its session, and its leaders have been cryptic about their intentions to deliver federal dollars promised to school districts.

The silver lining is public schools have a history of going above and beyond to ensure that exemplary teaching and learning occur despite being underfunded and regularly criticized. Even during an emergency like the pandemic, our educators and trustees remain committed to ensuring our children have every opportunity for a brilliant future.

The federal government thinks so, too. That is why lawmakers approved a third round of ESSER funding in the American Rescue Plan Act. The NISD board firmly believes Texas should not continue to use ESSER dollars to alleviate its responsibility to public education. It has a legal and moral obligation to send federal aid to schools now.

Our students and teachers need and deserve more from all of us — and with the ESSER funding, a solid foundation for a robust recovery can be actualized.

Jerry Lara / Staff file photo NISD students work on lessons late last year. The district has a plan to keep students safe and learning, but Texas is dragging its feet on delivering federal relief intended for that purpose.