Frank White proposes giving $5 million in COVID-19 aid to help school districts
Jackson County’s 12 school districts would share $5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds under a plan County Executive Frank White announced Thursday afternoon.
But White stressed that the funding is contingent on the approval of the county legislature, which does not always go along with his proposals.
However, Theresa Galvin, chair of the legislature, made comments at Monday’s meeting in support of providing school districts with shares of coronavirus aid based on their size.
At that same meeting, County Administrator Troy Schulte said the county had $40 million left of the $123 million in CARES Act funding it received in April.
The legislature voted at the end of June to award $37 million to the county’s nine largest cities, which was less than White had originally proposed.
Other CARES act funding has gone to help the county’s public hospital system, Truman Medical Centers; buy supplies and cover other costs associated with the coronavirus — testing and personal protective equipment, for example.
Public safety agencies have also received CARES Act funding, but schools have not gotten aid to cover the extra costs of conducting classes in person or online in the midst of the pandemic.
According to a county news release, the $5 million could be used to pay for things such as “enhanced wireless internet services, improved education technology, mental health services, COVID-19 testing and nutrition programs.” But it would not be limited to those specific purposes.
Under White’s plan, Kansas City Public Schools would get the largest share, about $1.1 million, followed by the Lee’s Summit district at $647,500. Lone Jack C-6 would get the smallest share, just under $22,000. Others district that would get funding: Blue Springs, Center, Fort Osage, Grain Valley, Grandview, Hickman Mills, Oak Grove and Raytown.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 5:43 PM.
