EXCELLENT!!
Posted on 04/02/2025 3:35:13 PM PDT by ransomnote
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Friday told states that their time to spend COVID relief money had suddenly come to an end—canceling extensions the department had previously granted to states to allow schools more time to spend the money on previously planned projects and services.
McMahon alerted state education chiefs in a letter dated Friday that the deadline to spend all remaining funds was that same day at 5 p.m. EST.
She said the additional time “was not justified” and that states and school districts “have had ample time to liquidate obligations.”
Because the department can reconsider its decisions, McMahon wrote in the letter obtained by Education Week, “you could not rely on the Department adhering to its original decision.”
“By failing to meet the clear deadline in the regulation, you ran the risk that the Department would deny your extension request,” McMahon said. “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.”
The decision mainly affects funds schools have budgeted—but not yet spent—from the last round of COVID relief funding of about $130 billion that Congress approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
SNIP
The pandemic relief funds, awarded in three rounds in 2020 and 2021 and totaling roughly $200 billion, were meant to help schools cover the pandemic-related costs of shifting to online instruction, reopening school buildings, then helping students recover from learning loss. Schools could also spend the funds on a range of other expenses, from construction and renovations to mental health services.
(Excerpt) Read more at edweek.org ...
This is what I voted for.
Keep an eye on gov’t surplus auction sites for goodies...that YOU paid for!
We are 4 years post-COVID... what “COVID relief” is still necessary?
Another Democrat slush fund shut down.
In 2020 I predicted that you would be able to find ventilators on ebay within a couple of years. I haven’t checked, but wouldn’t be surprised.
" not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion"
Maybe the dems don’t want to give up their kickbacks.
I just Googled the following: Ventilators for sale on ebay.
A good number of items came up.
LOL! I predicted it 5 years ago !
It was just pissed away in some cases at least. One elementary school here built a 2nd ball diamond next to the one they already had, “because covid money, use it or lose it”.
Well done! I suspect one could find new boxes of masks on sale at ebay as well, most likely at yard sale prices!
YAY!!! IT was a SCAM!
Cut the slush funds for cruises, vacations, etc ... remember it is for the kids.
$130 billion here, $130 billion there, and it begins to add up.
It is somewhat surprising that they all didn’t spend it right away. Guess they just couldn’t fill out the paperwork fast enough. You’d think that working from home would have provided an opportunity to process the forms.
“The decision mainly affects funds schools have budgeted—but not yet spent—from the last round of COVID relief funding of about $130 billion that Congress approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.”
I’m not faulting you, but the author omits to divulge the key fact of the whole story: HOW FREAKING MUCH of the budgeted $130 Billion has not yet been spent? Might be a ten cents. Might be $130 billion. I’m suspicious that she is working from a press release written to imply significant savings, when the real number is peanuts. [If I’m blind and missed it, my apologies].
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Linda McMahon Abruptly Tells States Their Time to Spend COVID Relief Has Passed, Chewbarkah wrote: “The decision mainly affects funds schools have budgeted—but not yet spent—from the last round of COVID relief funding of about $130 billion that Congress approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.”
I’m not faulting you, but the author omits to divulge the key fact of the whole story: HOW FREAKING MUCH of the budgeted $130 Billion has not yet been spent? Might be a ten cents. Might be $130 billion. I’m suspicious that she is working from a press release written to imply significant savings, when the real number is peanuts. [If I’m blind and missed it, my apologies].
Kentucky school districts lose $34 million due to U.S. Department of Education change
Published: Apr. 2, 2025"According to Dr. Fletcher’s email, 19 districts have asked for extended time to spend their COVID relief dollars fully, which totaled $84.1 million. He says there are 13 districts with $34 million remaining that should be accessible to spend. This money was primarily going to be used for construction projects and bus purchases."
ransomnote: I'm curious to know how 'buss purchases' and 'construction projects' are relevant to Covid, when schools were closed and students attended school online.
In theory, most of the funds should have been spent while we were waiting two weeks to flatten the curve.
Installing new ventilation and plexiglass barriers 4 years later is proof that the money was never needed.
EC
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